When Paxton Fielies was announced as the the winner of Idols SA’s 13th season, much of Cape Town rejoiced (HERE).

It’s always tough to come so close to success, only to have it yanked away, so spare a thought for runner-up Mthokozisi Ndaba.

He has been unreachable since the announcement,  suddenly refusing to attend the post-show press conference, the VIP prize-giving after party, and declining to do any media interviews this week.

The producers of the show claimed that they had offered counselling services to Ndaba, but it looks like that hasn’t really had much effect.

Actually, hold off on that ‘sparing a thought’ front. Here’s what allegedly went down over the weekend, with Channel24 reporting:

Ndaba has been accused of abuse after a young woman came forward claiming that the Idols SA runner-up allegedly physically assaulted her.

The woman says she lost a tooth in the violent attack.

“You brutally abused me. I don’t deserve to be beaten up like this by a stranger that I have never even wronged. Why? Why did you do this to me? You will run but you will never hide,” she wrote on Instagram whilst sharing two photos showing her battered face. (The victim’s account has since been made private)…

The victim, who on Saturday shared photos of her battered and bruised face, claims the 25-year-old Ndaba opened a bottle of vodka and after an argument ensued, started to hit her and then slammed her into a wall. She also lost a tooth during the incident. She claims that Ndaba then ran away.

Over on IOL, they share those images and more on Neo Tsele’s allegations:.

Trigger warning of alleged assault images ahead:

[He] had apparently helped himself to Tsele’s bottle of vodka, which she was saving for her birthday next month.

“I told him it was mine and he must not drink it. That is when he pushed me again and threw me out of the flat,” she said.

Tsele said when she tried to fight back, he started punching her.

“I pushed him back in self-defence and he punched me until I was bleeding. They tried to stop him, but it got worse. He punched me until I broke a tooth.

“Mthokozisi and his cousin Qhawe told me not to call my brother and the police, saying they would replace my tooth,” she said.

Many media outlets have reached out to Ndaba for comment without luck, but it looks like the Sowetan had the most success:

Late on Saturday Ndaba responded to the allegation via a WhatsApp voice note.

He claimed he had cancelled his return to KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.

“I’m also surprised. I waited at the police station waiting for her to come and show herself‚ who she is and where did she meet me. But she didn’t show up.”

Ndaba also sent pictures of himself posing with two policemen at what appears to be an airport satellite booth.

However he claimed it was evidence that he was at the police station.

“I cancelled my flight home. I’m not leaving Johannesburg until this thing is over.”

Police confirmed this morning that no arrests have been made, and Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net for local entertainment channels, says that they have been unable to reach Ndaba.

That same update, also via Channel24, covers some rather nasty rumours:

…rumours have started to circulate that Ndaba was allegedly borderline abusive and rude towards some of the other contestants during their stay in the Idols house. Mzansi Magic was asked if any contestants ever complained about his behaviour during their time in the Idols house.

Mabece told Channel24 that “we did not receive any complaints from contestants during the show”.

It’s clear that Ndaba is in need of help, sooner rather than later, and he must front up to these allegations, and the charges laid against him, immediately.

[sources:channel24&iol&sowetan&channel24]