AFRO-POP songbird and choreographer Tina Mkwaiwa has escaped going to jail by the skin of her teeth after she allegedly turned her stepson into a rehearsal stage.

The singer also allegedly insulted her stepson's mom, Madam & Eve actress Tina Jaxa, by calling her a "bitch" when she tried to intervene.

Jaxa, who has been living in Cape Town after her divorce from music promoter Prosper Mkwaiwa about a decade ago, gave up custody to him this year after a long maintenance battle.

A relative, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said the songstress arrived home on Thursday night after shooting the breeze with friends and interrogated her stepson about a missing camera.

When the teen told her that he didn't know anything about it, Mkwaiwa reportedly went into his room, where she found the camera pouch.

"She blew her top and accused him of stealing the camera," said the relative. "When her stepson told her that the pouch had always been in his room and that he did not steal the camera, Tina started assaulting him."

The relative said the boy fought back. His father was unable to help him because of injuries he sustained in a car crashabout two weeks ago.

"She got mad when the child fought back and started punching the child until he fell to the ground.

"She then kicked and jumped on him. The child escaped and ran to the street. He phoned his mother in Cape Town and explained what happened to him," said the relative.

Jaxa told the boy to go to Bronkhorstspruit police station to lay a complaint of assault.

The actress said: "After the child explained to me what had happened, I asked him to go to the police station and open a case of assault. I had no choice, because when I asked her (Mkwaiwa) why she assaulted my son, she insulted me and called me a bitch. She also sent me an SMS insulting me and I also retaliated. I spoke to one officer at the station who indicated that they would help my child open a case, but I was surprised and saddened to learn that they failed to do so."

Jaxa said she asked the principal at her son's school the next day to take the child for counselling.

Bronkhorstspruit police spokeswoman Sarah Mcira said the SAPS Act stipulated that any person younger than 18 had to be accompanied by an adult to open a case. "The child is 16. and that was the reason he couldn't be helped."

Prosper could not be reached for comment.

Mkwaiwa said: "Tina must voetsek. This boy stole my camera. And it is not the first time. He stole my laptop before. She must come and fetch her spoilt brats."