Johannesburg - Professor Rachel Jewkes on Wednesday told the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge that her findings on gender violence were replicated in the trial of former radio presenter DJ Donald Sebolai, who was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Dolly Tshabalala.
Jewkes, was testifying in aggravation of sentence in the trial of the former Soweto community radio station presenter, who was found guilty of Tshabalala’s murder last month despite his incredible claim that he stabbed her in the genital area in “self defence”.
Responding to a question from state prosecutor Elize Lesufi Roux, the professor said: “Over the years of research we have learnt that emotional violence is common, with having control over her access to other men and family… making her feel worthless and belittled. Men who use this violence repeat it and it becomes a pattern. Not all men are the same, but there’s a large group who are violent as a response to conflict”.
“Common for accusations from both sides often there’s grounds to jealousy and many South African women don’t trust their partner,” said Jewkes
Le Roux said that Sebolai had admitted to having been violent to previous lovers.
“Evidence showed that there was a history of emotional abused between the accused and deceased,” she said, adding that there was a “history of alcohol abuse by the accused and deceased.”
Le Roux recalled that Sebolai had testified that Tshabalala was jealous and caused all the fighting in their relationship.
“He admitted that he used physical violence when Dolly [Tshabalala] was found in the backseat of a car with her pants down and a male friend trying to take advantage of her and he rescued her… she embarrassed him at his work studio,” Le Roux said.
Sebolai indicated that it wasn’t wrong to slap a partner once in a while when she misbehaved, Le Roux stated.
“On the night of the incident the accused asked Tshabalala to leave him for three weeks to spend time with his son, which is why she attacked him and he defended himself,” She said.
“Uncharacteristic for the deceased to get angry when the accused said his son would be around for three weeks because usually men would want a woman around. Tshabalala must have felt sidelined,” Jewkes stated.
Sentencing procedures continue.
African News Agency
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