TV PERSONALITY and former radio jock Penny Lebyane has expressed disappointment at former Live presenter Bonang Matheba for dropping charges against ex-beau, Themba Nkosi aka DJ Euphonik.

The two reached an out-of-court settlement last Friday and all charges against 5FM and club DJ Themba Nkosi were dropped.

Lebyane said: "I understand the pressure Bonang is going through, but I feel dropping the charges is a huge setback in the fight against violence to women.

"Bonang is a trend-setter and a very influential role model.

"She now has a huge responsibility to explain why she dropped the charges to those young girls who follow her and those who are going through what she went through.

"This issue of women dropping charges after an assault or abuse is one of the biggest problems that this country is facing right now. We cannot afford to be feeble and clumsy about it."

Yesterday Matheba refused to shed light on why she had dropped the charges and referred all questions to her publicist Simphiwe Majola.

Majola, who is also Uyanda Mbuli's publicist, refused to comment, saying Matheba was going to issue a statement when ready.

Mbuli, a fashion label owner, is in the the middle of a bitter divorce from her estranged husband Sisa Mbuli, whom she accuses of physically abusing her.

People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) yesterday defended Matheba's decision to withdraw assault charges against Nkosi.

Said Powa spokeswoman Nonkululeko Khumalo: "If Bonang sees it fit to drop the charges then it is her decision. Every woman's case is unique and every choice must be respected."