Assault charges have been laid by relatives of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as well as the owner of an upmarket restaurant in Melrose following a fight at the venue last Sunday night.
SABC news reported that the complainants were relatives of the ANC Women’s League president — David Manaway, the American husband of Madikizela-Mandela’s granddaughter, Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway, and his brother Christopher Caple, who said they were brutally assaulted after dining at the restaurant.
However, Johannesburg police representative Inspector Amanda Roestoff, said on Friday that the complainants were apparently bodyguards.
Roestoff said the first case of assault to cause grievous bodily harm was laid with Norwood police on Monday afternoon. She said the complainant, Manaway, and eight friends went to JB’s Corner restaurant at the Melrose Arch Centre. ”The victims in this case claim that they are bodyguards of Winnie Mandela.
”They had some alcoholic drinks at about 9pm. At about 11.15pm the group were allegedly told by a waiter to finish their drinks as the manager wanted to close the restaurant. Arguments ensued because the customers did not want to leave and wanted to order more alcohol.
”A fight started inside the restaurant and outside between security, personnel, the manager and the customers (the complainants).”
Roestoff said a second case of assault to cause grievous bodily harm was laid on Wednesday by the manager of restaurant.
”Witness statements have been submitted by two men present at the restaurant during the time of the incident.”
She said both cases were being investigated and would be forwarded to the senior public prosecutor for a decision.
In a joint statement on Friday afternoon, the manager of Melrose Arch, Richard Willys, and the owner of JB’s Corner, Nicolas Kiros, said the manager of the restaurant was verbally and physically assaulted by a few patrons. The patrons, the pair said, had been drinking excessively throughout Sunday night and became abusive when the manager said he was going to close the restaurant.
”It became necessary for Melrose Arch security personnel to intervene in order to bring the situation under control and to remove the troublemakers from the premises.”
Kiros said he was deeply concerned about the incident. He expressed regret saying this was the first such incident since the restaurant opened over a year ago.
Kiros and the Melrose Arch Centre management would assist the police in their investigations ”to ensure that justice prevails”.
Speaking on Friday, Madikizela-Mandela’attorney Votani Majola said: ”I have not yet received proper instructions from my client regarding the issue and the matter is still to be discussed so I cannot divulge any information from their side.” – Sapa