A TWO-YEAR love affair turned ugly when a North West man allegedly poured acid on his girlfriend, five days after he had doused her with petrol.

Sydney Mpolaisang, 44, of Mahikeng, appeared briefly in the Mmabatho Magistrate's Court on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and damage of property.

In another matter, he is also charged with contravening a protection order after the incident with the petrol.

Mpolaisang told Magistrate Seth Mmusi that he would not apply for bail.

Mpolaisang is accused of pouring acid on his girlfriend Lerato Matane, 28, on August 26.

He also allegedly damaged property belonging to her parents.

In the earlier incident, he had allegedly poured petrol on Matane, also of Mahikeng, after he was served with a protection order.

Matane, who was at court yesterday, said she was relieved that he was not released on bail.

She described him as "a quiet and lovely person who was very jealous".

Matane told Sowetan their relationship started to turn sour early this year when Mpolaisang started to beat her up, take her money and harass her at work.

"He would beat me just because I took long to come back from a shopping mall or because I came home late from work," she said.

Matane said after several of these incidents she went to the police for help.

She applied for a protection order, but that night her boyfriend allegedly doused her with petrol as she was walking on the street.

"I ran for help. All my clothes were wet, the petrol smell was all over me," she said yesterday.

Mpolaisang was arrested but released on bail five days later.

He then allegedly went to Matane's room in her absence.

According to Matane, he poured acid on her clothes and shoes and then waited for her to come home.

She said on her arrival a bucket full of acid was poured on her body.

Matane is recovering at home after she spent a month in hospital.

- tshehleb@sowetan.co.za

This article was first published in the printed newspaper on 10 October 2012

.