Rosie Motene: I freaked out after assault

South African actress Rosie Motene was assaulted in Botswana. Photo: Supplied

South African actress Rosie Motene was assaulted in Botswana. Photo: Supplied

Published Dec 1, 2013

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Durban - South African actress Rosie Motene, of Generations and Hotel Rwanda fame, turned to Twitter for help when she was assaulted during a trip to Botswana.

“I need assistance from SA. I was beaten in Botswana and currently in Bokamoso hospital. Police won’t come and I need assistance.

“NO JOKE,” Motene tweeted from her account @PrincessRTM at 5am on Saturday.

On her return to South Africa later, she told the Sunday Tribune she had arrived in Botswana on Tuesday to promote 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children.

Describing the incident, she said, “We had gone to an Absolut Vodka party at an upmarket hotel when this guy started throwing punches, and one landed on my nose.”

Doctors said her nose was fractured.

Motene said she had asked the man, a stranger, to apologise, but he refused. She asked hotel security to call the police, but they refused

“There was blood everywhere and I decided I needed to get out of there.”

The actress said she went to Bokamoso Hospital, where she tried to get the police to take a statement but they wouldn’t. She later found out that her assailant was Bissau Goabakwa, who is apparently well connected in the city.

“I freaked out. I was worried he would send someone to intimidate me.”

She praised the swift action of the high commission, which sent two officials to the hospital and that resulted in the police taking her statement.

Motene said she would press charges.

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Sunday Tribune

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