A LIMPOPO woman was burnt with boiling water, allegedly poured over her by her supervisor, and was dismissed from work, allegedly after she failed to report for duty.

A LIMPOPO woman was burnt with boiling water, allegedly poured over her by her supervisor, and was dismissed from work, allegedly after she failed to report for duty.

The woman, Johanna Mashilo of Thabazimbi near the border post between Limpopo and Botswana, suffered third-degree burns on her neck and chest.

The 20-year-old woman, whose husband was also fired from the Matlakele Game Lodge, allegedly had boiling water poured over her by her supervisor, Philemon Majila, after an argument over her having been absent from work.

"My sin was to ask the foreman why he told my boss that I was absent from work," she said.

"We were in the kitchen boiling water for tea when he attacked me with fists and took the water pot and poured it over me.

"He said he wanted to teach me some manners."

Mashilo, who had worked at the lodge for more than three years, said she was paid between R350 and R600 a month.

Attempts to obtain comment from Majila failed since calls to his cellphone were unanswered.

Owner of the lodge and Mashilo's former boss, Martin Nel, poured cold water on the allegations and said Mashilo was fabricating the whole thing in an effort to tarnish his business.

Nel labeled Mashilo a "serial liar" and said she had a bad influence on his employees.

He said Majila had been pouring water from the pot and that it had accidentally splashed on Mashilo.

"But because she had a personal vendetta against him she blew everything out of proportion and reported the case to the police. She has no case against Majila," he said.

Belabela police spokesperson captain Johny Thiyo confirmed that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been opened against Majila.

Thiyo said Majila appeared before the Belabela magistrate's court on Monday and was released on R200 bail.

The case will be heard again on June 25.