Cape Town - A Langa domestic worker has accused her employer of locking her up and beating her with a golf club for some hours.
But Roshaan Davids, from Surrey Estate, says her domestic worker, Sindiwe Moyikwa, threw the first punch. Davids has appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on a charge of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
Moyikwa, 37, of Langa, said the incident had left her bruised and suffering from dizzy spells.
She accused Davids, a woman she said she trusted, of beating her for six hours.
Moyikwa began working for Davids six months ago, charring three times a week for R120 a day. “I thought she was a nice person.”
Trouble began at the beginning of the month when Davids accused her of stealing a set of bangles and a watch. Moyikwa denied knowing anything about them. On Humans Rights Day, Davids confronted her about the missing items. “I was changing from my work clothes in the children’s room, getting ready to leave at about 3pm, when she asked me about her watch.”
Moyikwa said she told her employer she did not know where it was. Davids reportedly then said Moyikwa would tell the truth, and locked the door. A punch was thrown and Moyikwa fell, knocking her tooth out.
Moyikwa alleged the assault included being hit with a golf club and being sprayed with pepper spray. She passed out several times.
Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana confirmed that Moyikwa had laid a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Davids was arrested the following day and had appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court.
Kinana said: “It was alleged that a domestic worker from Langa was accused of stealing a watch, a situation which resulted to the employer assaulting her with a golf stick. She sustained injuries to her upper body and was later taken to hospital for medical treatment.”
Monyikwa said she was rescued by Davids’s ex-boyfriend, who came to the house at about 9pm and heard her screams.
Her twin sister, Sindiswa, said she got suspicious when her sister did not pick up her phone. She then phoned Davids to ask where she was. “She told me that my sister was a thief and refused to tell me where she is. She switched off her phone after that.”
Davids told the Cape Argus Moyikwa had attacked her first and that her lawyer was handling the matter. She said she would lay a counter-charge against Moyikwa.
Cape Argus