Police minister Fikile Mbalula has defended calling a man who hit a woman with a spanner over the head a “dog” on his Twitter account on Monday.
Broadcaster eNCA took to social media to ask users if they thought it was appropriate for the minister to call the accused a “dog” before he was convicted of the crime.
On Monday Mbalula tweeted: “This dog was arrested he is appearing in court as we speaking #knowToabuse this dog must rot in jail....”
eNCA posed the question on social media: “Minister Fikile #Mbalula called the DJ who beat his wife with a spanner‚ a dog on Twitter‚ before he pleaded in court. Is it appropriate?”
The minister defended his actions in a tweet‚ saying: “There is nothing outside the law. Why should we respect a suspected criminal shown in a video attacking a vulnerable woman with spanner?”
Khombela “Dj Khomza” Nthleko was denied bail when he appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on Monday. “The accused will reappear on October 4‚” said police spokesperson Kay Makhubela.
Nthleko sparked an outrage on social media after a video emerged showing him allegedly hitting his wife over the head nine times with a spanner. The woman could be seen facing down and bleeding while her friend‚ Thandeka Ndlovu‚ filmed the incident which later went viral after she posted the video clip on Facebook.
On Monday Mbalula condemned the actions of the accused and said that he must rot in jail.
The accused is facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and domestic violence.