Former African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Pule Mabe this month made an unusual late‑night visit to a Johannesburg police station to seek a court protection order against his wife, who in turn accused him of domestic violence, according to court and police reports.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of March 9 at Douglasdale police station, began with what Mabe described as a heated marital dispute over a family matter. Telling duty officers his wife, identified only as Elsie, was “wandering the streets intoxicated,” Mabe requested assistance and sought a protection order to keep her away from him. When Elsie arrived at the station to file a domestic violence complaint, the couple reportedly clashed again in front of police.
In comments to Sunday Times, Elsie characterised the clash as a minor altercation blown out of proportion by stress linked to ongoing fraud charges the couple face over a R27 million tender for municipal waste vehicles in Alexandra a matter both deny as overly sensational. “We are not okay … mentally,” she said, describing their relationship strain.
Police spokesperson Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that while no criminal charges had been lodged at the time, both parties were advised on legal avenues, with Mabe directed to pursue his protection order application through the courts. The magistrate’s court in nearby Ekurhuleni will hear related matters as legal processes proceed.
The public airing of their private dispute underscores the complex intersections between personal relationships and high‑profile political figures, fuelling debate about domestic conflict, alcohol use, and legal protections in South Africa’s legal framework.