CAPE TOWN – Award-winning gospel musician Xoliswa Kwinana was taken into police custody on Wednesday after his estranged wife, Ndikhona Hlatika, filed a case of assault with grievous bodily harm against him in Cape Town. The arrest follows allegations of a series of gender-based violence (GBV) incidents that allegedly occurred between 2021 and 2022.
Hlatika's decision to open the case came two years after the alleged incidents, which include claims that Kwinana spat on her face and physically assaulted her on separate occasions within their marital home. She pursued legal action after separating from Kwinana and securing a protection order against him last year.
In the protection order, obtained at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court in Cape Town in January last year, Hlatika detailed an incident where Kwinana allegedly assaulted her while she was three months pregnant, resulting in injuries to her arm and face. "It all started [in 2021, but I remember very well the night he smacked me while I was pregnant. I done (sic) it again while I was pregnant, and I ran to a shelter because the following day he acted like nothing happened," Hlatika stated in the order.
Hlatika further alleged that after assaulting her, Kwinana would shout at her, portraying himself as the victim. She claimed that he beat her again the following week, prompting her to flee their home and seek refuge at his grandmother's house.
During her application for the protection order, Hlatika was asked whether Kwinana was using drugs. She responded that she was unaware of any drug use, but noted that he frequently consumed alcohol. "He is not on drugs, not that I know of, but he drinks wine," she stated.
When asked what she feared would happen if she did not obtain the protection order, Hlatika expressed concerns that Kwinana was capable of killing her. "He is capable of killing me, because he apologised and said he didn’t know what got into him. Clearly, he is capable of killing me," Hlatika stated. She added that she needed the order because she lacked siblings who could protect her from the singer. "My father passed away at a young age. My mom is so kind and forgiving," she stated.
Hlatika also alleged that Kwinana subjected her to emotional, financial, and psychological abuse. "He is a narcissist. He has spat in my face before, broken my phone and called me names. He has called me a foolish wife," she stated.
Anti-gender-based violence activist Nosipho Daniels, of Malihambe Women Outreach, said Hlatika approached their organisation to share her ordeal. Malihambe Women Outreach then assisted Hlatika in opening a case against Kwinana with the police on July 3.
Daniels stated that, through her foundation's intervention, Kwinana was handed over to the police by his lawyers on Wednesday. He was subsequently arrested and taken to court, where he was released on bail.
About a month ago, Hlatika took to social media to publicly accuse Kwinana of physical abuse. However, the artist, who is associated with the gospel group Spirit of Praise, refuted her claims, asserting that he had never laid his hands on her and that the injuries she displayed on social media were the result of a car accident.
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