- Omphemetse Mashego claims former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena started assaulting her two years after they started dating.
- The assault to cause grevous bodily harm charge was provisionally withdrawn against Mokoena.
- He is now facing a protection order matter in the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court which is expected to be heard in June.
Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena's ex-lover says she is living in fear after she laid criminal charges against the footballer.
Mokoena, 39, represented the country 107 times and captained the nation during the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. He also spent most of his career playing overseas for big clubs.
Omphemetse Mashego, 40, who is stationed at Vereeniging police station in Gauteng, said she was seeking counselling after Mokoena allegedly assaulted her on three separate occasions.
She said her ordeal began on 31 December 2018, when she claimed an intoxicated Mokoena had to be stopped by her two siblings from physically attacking her.
The latest ordeal was on 22 February 2020 when, she claimed, he punched her in the face and on her body, leaving bruises.
She alleged that when Mokoena drank excessively he became violent and would attack her for no reason.
Mashego claimed the couple had broken up several times but Mokoena would always apologise, promising to change his behaviour.
She opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against Mokoena on 23 February. This, however, was provisionally withdrawn by the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court four days later.
The matter will only be reinstated in court once the investigating officer complied with certain queries that the State had ordered him to attend to.
Mashego said in the latest incident on 22 February she, Mokoena and his cousin accompanied the former football captain to a meeting in Johannesburg.
There, Mokoena and Mashego consumed three bottles of wine, and on their way home Mokoena bought more alcohol.
"On our way, he was drunk and his cousin drove his rented car while I was seated at the back where I saw his firearm. I took the gun and some of his papers and put them inside my handbag because I knew how dangerous he was when he was drunk," Mashego said.
"We dropped his cousin and Mokoena drove back to drop me at home. On our way, he asked to sleep at my house and I refused because we had not fixed things between us. He stopped the vehicle and started punching me with his fists, saying I was a man and must fight like a man because I act like man.
"I was lying on top of my bag, which had his gun. He only stopped punching me when I asked him why he was doing that after everything I had done for him."
Mashego said Mokoena drove towards her house, parked in a dark area away from her house and started attacking her again.
She said she managed to flee from the vehicle but left behind her bag, which had Mokoena's gun.
"I was met by my helper and I told her that Mokoena was carrying a gun. I ran home and called the police. The police couldn't open my case because I was intoxicated. I went to hospital and later opened a case of assault GBH [grevous bodily harm] the following day after being discharged from Mediclinic.
"On 24 February, I returned to the hospital again after experiencing excruciating pains and was given pain and trauma medication," she said.
Mokoena was later arrested and immediately granted R500 bail.
He appeared in court on 27 February and the matter was provisionally withdrawn.
Mashego told News24 that the couple had met in December 2015 and started dating in 2016 while they were both going through a divorce.
Mashego said at first Mokoena was loving and reserved.
"Two years down the line he would delete people's numbers on my phone. He first assaulted me after I had went out with my friends. He was angry that I left with my friends – and I should isolate myself from close friends.
"On that day, he took a pillow and placed it on my face, choking me and indirectly threatened to kill me. He vowed that no man will date me," Mashego said.
"He assaulted me again in my house, again in front of my helper. On that day, he arrived late at night and assaulted me. My helper came to my rescue when she confronted him and asked him why he was assaulting me and he then slapped me in front of my helper and I sustained an injury above my left eye," Mashego said.
She went to see a specialist and lied to the doctor, saying she had an accident.
On 4 March, she obtained a protection order against Mokoena, which was served on him by the police, and he was ordered to appear in court on 14 March.
"On 14 March, Mokoena and his lawyer Thomas Mahlobogoane wanted to settle the protection order matter out of court and I refused. The matter was then postponed to 28 May. Mokoena was ordered to file responding documents to my protection order before 24 May.
"On 28 March, he didn't appear in court and Mahlobogoane told the court that Mokoena was ill and that his affidavit was not signed and commissioned by the commissioner of oath.
"I feel that they are dragging this matter because I don't have a lawyer and can't afford one. I am spending my money on security, fearing that he will kill me and my children," said Mashego.
Police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda said the investigating officer had complied with the State queries, and the docket was recently returned to court.
"We can confirm that Mokoena's firearm is in our safe, pending his matter. We are only waiting for the court to tell us when Mokoena's assault GBH case will be brought back to the roll," Funda said.
Mahlobogoane confirmed that he was representing Mokoena.
"It is safe to say that our client denies all the allegations against him. The protection order matter is still pending in court. We are not prepared to make a statement now, but we will issue one later," Mahlobogoane said.
The protection order hearing was expected to be heard on 12 June.