Cecil Motsepe

Cecil Motsepe

Former Bafana Bafana player Cyril Nzama, who was being tried on assault charges laid by his wife, yesterday walked free from the Johannesburg magistrate's court.

Nzama, 34, was charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after an incident at their Naturena home on June 17.

Nonhlanhla Nzama claimed that the footballer pushed, choked and kicked her during a row.

She said the assault stopped only when their five-year-old daughter knocked at the door after hearing her scream.

She also told the court that a few days before the assault Nzama had taken her cellphone and car keys because "he was not happy with my night trips".

It also emerged that their marriage was already on the rocks long before the incident and that they had started sleeping in separate bedrooms after the Easter holiday.

But yesterday magistrate Norman Makhubela found in favour of the famous footie.

Handing down judgment Makhubela slammed the doctor who examined Nonhlanhla, saying his evidence displayed a "shocking level of shoddiness" and was riddled with inconsistencies.

"There is no way the court could allow itself to be guided by this shoddy observation and the doctor's testimony is therefore thrown out."

Makhubela also tore Nonhlanhla's testimony apart.

"The accused has not been one of the best witnesses we have ever had but I can't fault his testimony."

Makhubela remarked that as a result of the contradictions there was doubt in the mind of the court.

"The doubt favours the accused and accordingly the case is dismissed," he said.