IN DISPUTE: Domestic assistant Ntombi Abiyola shows a new twoplate stove that was allegedly reported to be in a bad condition at the Summerstrand holiday accommodation. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI
Owner, guest accuse each other of assault
TWO women who exchanged blows over holiday accommodation in Summerstrand have laid complaints of common assault against each other. Student accommodation owner and businesswoman Priscilla Sewundhal laid a complaint against Tersia Klein of Secunda, in Mpumalanga, at the Humewood police station while Klein laid one in Secunda.
Warrant Officer Alwin Labans confirmed a case of common assault was opened after Sewundhal was allegedly smacked.
Mpumalanga provincial police spokesman Selvy Mohlala could not be reached for comment.
Sewundhal claimed she was assaulted by Klein who, with seven family members, had rented holiday accommodation in the affluent suburb from December 26.
Klein claimed the accommodation and some appliances were dirty, the mattresses were worn out, and lights and showers were not working properly. Sewundhal denied this. When The Herald team visited the house at 16 Gomery Place on Monday, everything appeared to be in order.
Tempers flared last week when Klein demanded that Sewundhal drop the rent to R40 per person a day, provide alternative accommodation or refund them.
Sewundhal offered alternative accommodation at R850 for the entire family, but Klein refused.
The two then became embroiled in a scuffle, with Sewundhal allegedly trying to prevent Klein from taking pictures. Klein claims Sewundhal smacked her.
Sewundhal denies this, saying she was attacked first.
“She came and hit me like a man . . . I did not lift up my hand against her,” Sewundhal says.
“I would never allow my students to live in filthy conditions.”
Sewundhal claimed Klein took occupation before the agreed date and then refused her and her cleaner access to clean up.
Klein said she was forced to cut her stay in the Bay short.
She was “shocked” when she received a phone call from a police officer who said he had a warrant for her arrest and demanded she hand herself over at the Humewood police station.
“I told the sergeant I had just arrived in Secunda and could not go back to PE. I also explained to him that we [she and Sewundhal] had agreed not to lay charges against each other,” Klein said.
“I then went to the police here to open a counter charge.”
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