Mpho Boadia, a South African living in Luxembourg, was on holiday in South Africa with her twin sons, their cousin, and a friend at the City Lodge Hotel in Fourways. On Saturday night, Boadia claims she was approached by a strange man at the hotel bar who made unwanted advances. When she rebuffed him, the situation escalated, and she alleges she was assaulted.
According to Boadia, the man approached her and her friends at the bar, commenting that he knew her, despite her denying it. When he continued to harass them, Boadia decided to report the incident to security, who accompanied her to the reception area where the man was checking in. The man became aggressive, calling them whores and prostitutes.
Boadia claims the man poked her Danish friend and slapped her, prompting her to phone her twin sons to return to the hotel. She also asked hotel staff to call the police as the man started to leave. However, when the police arrived, they declined to take a statement from Boadia, citing her consumption of alcohol.
Boadia's sons returned to the hotel and became involved in a skirmish with the man, who allegedly hit Boadia. The police eventually took a statement from Boadia's son, who opened an assault case at the Douglasdale police station. Boadia went to hospital on Sunday for a check-up and to obtain a medical report on her injuries.
The police have not arrested the suspect, releasing him on a warning instead. Boadia expressed her disappointment and frustration with the response, questioning why a woman had to be physically injured or worse before the system could respond. She posted her story on social media, prompting other women to come forward with similar allegations against the man.
The suspect's identity and employer were posted on social media by other women who claim to have been abused by him in the past. However, the police have not confirmed this information. Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that a case of common assault had been opened and was under investigation.
The City Lodge Hotel Fourways management declined to comment on the incident, citing a lack of information. Boadia's experience has sparked a wider conversation about women's safety in South Africa, with many calling for greater action to be taken to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
Key points
- A South African woman was assaulted at a hotel in Johannesburg after rebuffing a strange man's unwanted advances.
- The police response to the incident has been criticized, with the suspect released on a warning despite witnesses and security footage.
- The incident has sparked a wider conversation about women's safety in South Africa and the need for greater action to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
