Lebogang Seale
JOHANNESBURG: Actor and director Rapulana Seiphemo spent most of the weekend behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.
Seiphemo, 45, who is best known for his roles as Tau Mogale in the soapie Generations and Pheko Mokoena in Muvhango, was arrested on Saturday night after he allegedly slapped his unidentified girlfriend during an argument.
Seiphemo is married to Olga Rubeiro, a former manager at a major bank in Mbabane, Swaziland
The alleged assault is said to have taken place in Honeydew, north-west of Joburg.
The alleged physical attack, which came in the wake of an outcry over the level of violence against women by their spouses or intimate partners, was confirmed by the police.
“The complainant went to the police station (to report a case of assault). She said he slapped her and the suspect was arrested at his house,” said police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale yesterday. She added that the suspect faced charges of domestic violence and assault.
Seiphemo was detained at the Roodepoort police station.
Sources at the police station said the actor was still being held in a police holding cell by 7pm last night.
Seiphemo is due to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court today on charges of domestic violence and assault.
Seiphemo and Rubeiro married in a glamorous wedding at the Royal Swazi Sun Hotel in Ezulwini, in 2003.
Seiphemo’s friend Kenneth Nkosi – with whom he co-owns the company Stepping Stones – was his best man.
He and Nkosi have appeared in the film Tsotsi, which featured such stars as Terry Pheto and Presley Chweneyagae.
Apart from Generations and Muvhango, Seiphemo also starred as Godlieb Mofokeng in Isidingo, in the play My Children, My Africa, which was directed and written by Athol Fugard, and in the M-Net variety show LOL.
The Meadowlands-born actor has directed stage productions including Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys at the Market Theatre plus Five Past Two at the Sibikwa Community Centre.
He was also a producer on the SABC1 drama series Mzansi.