Amapiano king DJ Maphorisa has rejected the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) proposal to go for a diversion programme before it withdraws the assault charge laid against him by his former girlfriend Thuli Phongolo.
The award-winning producer has instead asked the NPA to rather proceed with the trial and prosecute him so he can prove his innocence to the public.
Maphorisa, real name Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe, has also removed his legal team, apparently after it concurred with the diversion programme proposition, which involves anger management, among others.
The startling details were revealed by a source who is close to both Maphorisa and Phongolo.
Maphorisa was arrested in May and charged with assault after the 29-year-old former TV sultry presenter alleged that he assaulted her.
Relating her ordeal, the purring sex kitten told the police that she had a squabble with the Ba Straata hitmaker after confronting him about an argument the previous night.
The thespian said the acclaimed music producer responded aggressively and started slapping her on her porcelain face.
Phongolo, who once starred in Generations: The Legacy as Namhla Diale, said Maphorisa held her, took her to the balcony, and grabbed her aggressively by the neck.
Phongolo withdrew the charges against Maphorisa, and together with the recording superstar, issued a joint statement in which they requested the public to give them time and space to return to their work unhindered.
The two former love-birds said the incident had received mixed public attention and caused a great deal of emotional stress to them.
They also threatened to take legal actions against their jaw-boned aficionados who spread defamatory and disparaging allegations against them.
According to information received, Maphorisa’s legal team submitted representations to the NPA to withdraw the case against him after Phongolo withdrew it of her own volition.
NPA agreed to withdraw the case, which sent some shock waves across the country, on condition that Maphorisa undergoes anger management courses. But the mega star refused and insisted that he would rather stand in the dock and prove his innocence.
Sunday World understands that Maphorisa sneezed at the proposal because in the court of public opinion, he would remain a woman basher who suffers from weak emotional intelligence. He would forever have this dark cloud hanging over his head that he had assaulted her out of anger.
This would not be good for his reputation; it would also have a negative impact on his career because he might lose women empowerment and anti-gender-based violence-related gigs.
Also, potential sponsors and endorsement companies which do not want to be associated with women and children abuse cases, would boycott him. “So, there is a lot at stake for him,” said the deep throat who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals.
NPA South Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed they wanted the artist to undergo anger management courses before withdrawing the case. “But he refused,” she said.
Maphorisa is expected to appear in the Randburg magistrate’s court soon to hear if the NPA will prosecute him.
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