EFF boss exposed my breasts, claims party member

A Limpopo woman has opened a case against EFF provincial secretary Jossey Buthane after he allegedly exposed her breasts in public.

However Buthane has rejected the allegations as untrue. The 27-year-old woman, who asked not to be named for fear of further victimisation, was apparently one of two people who were assaulted during an EFF meeting at the weekend.

The meeting took place at Jane Furse in Sekhukhune

Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, the woman said she was humiliated on Saturday during a party meeting where Buthane allegedly attacked her.

"I was pulled by my shirt and my breasts were exposed for all to see. I'm a young woman and a mother and I was humiliated. I felt belittled," she said.

The mother of two had attended the meeting for EFF members where Buthane, who is also an EFF MPL in the Limpopo legislature, was apparently present.

She said when they arrived at the meeting there seemed to be a fight, with some members being thrown out, allegedly at Buthane's instruction.

She said Buthane, who she claimed to have never met before the weekend, then approached her after another female leader pointed her out to him.

The woman claimed that she did not know why she was attacked.

She alleged that Buthane punched her as she was trying to get away from him.

"I was dizzy but I managed to get up and move away from him," she said.

The woman said she later went to the police station at around 5pm, along with her fellow comrades, to open a case at Jane Furse police station.

A picture showing the woman with bruises across her chest was posted on the EFF Apel Fetakgomo branch's Facebook wall on Sunday evening along with a case number.

The status update, which seemed to have been posted by the administrator of the page, stated that Buthane was involved in assaulting a "female fighter".

"I know some members will insult the admin for publishing organisation matters but fact remains this is wrong," the status update reads.

Yesterday, Buthane said the allegations were false, adding that he was not aware that a case had been opened against him.

"The allegations against me are untrue," he said.

"There is no sense of truth in them."

Provincial police spokesman Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said they were investigating a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm involving a well-known party leader and member of the provincial legislature.

Ngoepe said this was after a 27-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were allegedly assaulted by the suspect during a political meeting at the Lefa Complex in Jane Furse on Saturday where an argument ensued.

He said both victims, who were apparently assaulted with an open hand and fists, were taken to a local clinic for treatment.

Ngoepe said no arrests had been made, however, police were still tracing the suspect with the intention to summon him to court. mahopoz@sowetan.co.za