Popular South African actor, model, and television presenter, Lunga Shabalala has denied assault accusations levelled against him.
The former Selimathunzi presenter made headlines recently after reports emerged on social media that he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with an Uber driver on September 22. The incident reportedly occurred at a petrol station in Sandton, Johannesburg, after the driver allegedly slapped Shabalala’s girlfriend during a ride.
According to the reports, Shabalala retaliated, and a fight broke out, resulting in the actor allegedly hitting the driver with a bottle. Both Shabalala and the driver were reportedly arrested and appeared in court. The former Selimathunzi host was said to be facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm – but he set the record straight.
Following the reports, Shabalala has come out with guns blazing to set the record straight and protect his reputation.
In a lengthy statement he posted on his X account, he vehemently denied the allegations and stated that they are portraying him as a violent person. The actor further said that there was no legal case pending against him.
“The man involved has voluntarily withdrawn all charges following the incident on 22 September and the prosecutor after reviewing the matter, has chosen not to pursue any form of prosecution. This legal outcome speaks to my innocence in the situation and underscores the baselessness of these allegations against me”.
Shabalala said as a public figure, he strongly condemns any form of violence and is committed to fighting against gender-based violence (GBV).
“As a public figure, I understand the immense responsibility I carry in promoting positive behaviours, and I firmly stand against all forms of violence, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV). It is a societal scourge that we must all unite to combat, and I am deeply committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, equality, and respect,” he said.
The former Selimathunzi presenter also said that the allegations levelled against him, are not only false but also hurtful. He further urged the media and the public to refrain from spreading false allegations that could damage an individual’s reputation.
This is not the first time the latter has made headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2023, he made headlines after reports emerged that his ex-girlfriend Thando Thabethe had allegedly filed an interim protection order against him. This occurred after Shabalala allegedly stalked her and unexpectedly rocked up at her workplace following their breakup in 2022.
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