Patrick Sindane’s girlfriend and baby mama Lebo Mogoasa is denying that the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) legislator (36) assaulted her.
“He did not assault me. I have no bruises. Like any other couple we had a heated argument and it was unfortunate that it happened publicly,” Mogoasa (31), a pharmacist by profession, told City Press this week.
She says she is against women and children abuse and if Sindane had assaulted her, she would have spoken out and laid charges against him.
Orlando Police Station Captain Nomvula Mbense said no assault charges were laid against Sindane.
Said Mogoasa: “I am raising three girls. There is no way I would have kept quiet and tried to protect Sindane if he had assaulted me.”
She was speaking out because she wanted people to know the truth behind her alleged assault, not because Sindane or anyone in the EFF had pressured her into doing so.
Last Saturday, Sindane and Mogoasa attended the funeral of an EFF member in Orlando East, Soweto. At the “after tears” party they started to argue in the presence of other EFF members.
“The argument lasted for about 20 minutes and I was so emotional that I cried uncontrollably. Everyone assumed that Sindane had physically assaulted me.” One EFF member confronted Sindane about the alleged assault and then fought with him.
“Even after I tried to intervene and explain that Sindane did not hit me, he wouldn’t listen to me. Everyone was so drunk, even Sindane. I was the only one sober. Sindane couldn’t even remember what happened. I had to remind him the following morning,” she said.
On Wednesday, the Gauteng EFF said in a statement that they suspended Sindane for the alleged assault against Mogoasa. A disciplinary process was underway.
Mogoasa said she was aware of claims made on social media that she was trying to protect her boyfriend.
She said no EFF officials, including the party’s Gauteng acting chairperson Mandisa Mashego had contacted her to hear her side of the story.
‘I won’t try to explain’
A day after the argument, Sindane tweeted: “I am not going to defend my actions, I reacted wrongly and I take full responsibility and I will not even try to explain what happened.”
Speaking to City Press on Friday, he said his statement was read out of context. “Taking responsibility for my actions doesn’t suggest that I assaulted my girlfriend. I am taking ownership that I acted wrongly and I regret it.”
However, he admitted to being drunk and getting into a heated argument with Mogoasa. He did not assault her.
“All I can remember is that I was in a physical fight with my fellow fighter and we have since made peace. I behaved in a uncalled-for manner,” he said.
He admitted to having an anger management issue and would see a psychologist. He said he had let his party down.
“I accept and welcome the suspension because it is a tool to uncover the truth. It’s only fair that I don’t fight it.”