Musician wins first round in battle with ex-lover

R&B musician Busisiwe ‘Cici’ Twala has won the first round of the ongoing court battle against her ex-lover and music producer Arthur Mafokate, says a report in The Star. The Midrand Magistrate's Court has ruled in Twala's favour, citing that Mafokate could not efficiently prove the physical harm he sustained during their fight in June last year. Mafokate claimed that Twala attacked him with a coat hanger and a steel chair in addition to ‘sinking her teeth into his arms’ during their squabble. Both Mafokate and Twala had opened cases of assault against each other. Magistrate Lieland Poonsamy said Mafokate only revealed details that he had been assaulted with the chair and hanger, and bitten, during cross examination. He failed to make this clear in his affidavit, Poonsamy said. ‘When I looked at the statement it was vague and it could not have given the state the position to proceed with the assault case after receiving verification with regards to the statement,’ Poonsamy said. ‘When one reads it, it is not clear if there was an assault. Only evidence to the assault itself was revealed under cross examination,’ he said. Poonsamy added that the doctor called to examine the injuries sustained by Mafokate said they were sketchy and that no open wound was detected. ‘It was to the extent that Mafokate had not clearly shown the bite marks and there was a discrepancy concerning the bite marks that were sustained,’ the magistrate said. ‘Proceeding with caution, the benefit of the doubt was given in this regard. The accused is therefore found not guilty of the set charge,’ Poonsamy ruled. The report notes Twala will be going back to court next month for her case against Mafokate for allegedly dragging her alongside his car.