Palesa Thembekwayo, wife of controversial motivational speaker and business magnate Vusi, has filed assault charges against her husband who vehemently denies the charges.
UPDATE: The article below has been edited. We previously embedded a video from a source who claimed the woman was Palesa. However, we have been reliably informed of the contrary. The video clip has since been removed, along with all accompanying reports.
Palesa Thembekwayo turns to the law in her fight against Vusi
From what we understand, the incident occurred on Monday 6 December 2021, at the couple’s Johannesburg home. Sunday World broke the exclusive a week later, despite efforts from the businessman to keep the story under wraps.
According to the publication, Vusi was triggered into blind rage when he arrived home from an international trip cut short by the travel ban on South African passports, to find his wife inebriated.
In a police statement, it’s said that Palesa was asleep in their bedroom when Vusi allegedly woke her up, forcing her to pack her bags and leave the premises in the late hours of that evening.
When she refused, a physical argument ensued and it’s believed Palesa was struck multiple times on her face and dragged down a flight of stairs.
Palesa was allegedly loaded into Vusi’s car, along with her luggage, and fearing for her life, the wife jumped out at a traffic stop and ran away. In the viral video, Palesa revealed that she went to Douglasdale police station to open a case of assault.
Vusi labels Palesa Thembekwayo a drug addict
In response to the backlash that followed the Sunday World story, the alleged wifebeater released a statement claiming he’s been on a social media hiatus “dealing with a difficult private family matter that requires my urgent attention.”
In his version, Vusi’s abrupt return from an international trip had little to do with travel restriction but more so due to his wife’s “longstanding battle with substance abuse.”
“Her response has been unfortunate and and resulted in alleged charges of assault against me. The matter appeared in court this week and has been remanded and is being defended. At all times, I have cooperated with law enforcement to resolve this matter courteously and expeditiously,” he said.
Vusi swore to vindicate himself from the assault allegations and affirmed his advocacy in “eradicating all forms of GBV (gender-based violence).”
Here is the businessman’s full statement:
— VT (@VusiThembekwayo) December 11, 2021