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A heavily-built Big Brother contestant avoided punishment after he pushed and then slapped a woman live on TV in a new low for the programme. Producers of the African version of the show were accused of condoning domestic violence after the female contestant was assaulted, watched by viewers from 14 countries. Ugandan Hannington Kuteesa, 24, thumped South African Lerato Sengadi, 26, during the Endemol-produced show, the same firm behind Britain's version Shocking viewing:

Hannington Kuteesa, right, and Lerato Sengadi have a heated row on the African Big Brother programme

Push: Kuteesa, right, and Sengadi get physical as the row boils over

Following Tuesday's incident, bosses at the M-Net television network have refused to remove the fiery businessman from the programme despite calls for a police investigation into the incident. Today, domestic abuse campaigner Wendy Isaack accused producers of sending out a dangerous signal about domestic violence to a continent where physical and sexual assaults against women were already prevalent.
The spokeswoman for the Johannesburg-based People Opposing Women Abuse group said: 'It is an absolute disgrace for Big Brother to allow an assault against a female contestant to go unpunished. 'This programme is watched by people across the continent, where around one in two women suffers physical or sexual abuse - often in extreme forms. 'In that context the producers should have immediately removed the man from the programme to set an example for others. 'We believe there should be a police investigation into this.

Strike: Kuteesa lashes out before punching his woman victim

'The woman should be told that she can press charges against him, but instead she is being forced to live in a house with her attacker in the name of entertainment. 'People argue that this is just a television programme, but it has a far reach across our country and Africa and in this day and age it is simply unacceptable for violence against women to be sanctioned in this way.'

This year's African Big Brother is the fifth series to be broadcast on the continent. Dubbed 'All Stars', the housemates are all contestants from previous series of the programme, which is being produced by Endemol. Tuesday's violent scenes were sparked as the contestants took part in a task aimed at highlighting the problem of malaria in Africa. Kuteesa, from the southern Malawian city of Blayntyre, first pushed Sengadi before punching her in the jaw with his right fist.

Fellow housemates then stepped in to break up the fight, with Kenyan contestant Sheila Kwamboka holding Kuteesa back as he apparently tried to throw another punch at the South African events coordinator.

Dragged away: Shocked housemates react, pulling him away from the argument

Kwamboka screamed: 'You hit a woman, dude. How can you do that?' Despite the ugly scenes, M-Net producers have refused to remove Kuteesa from the house. Instead the entrepreneur was ticked him off about his behaviour in the diary room.

Admitting he had acted out of turn, the Ugandan apologised for his actions. He said: 'I'm sorry for how I reacted. I have a temper problem, but I won't use this as an excuse. Lerato, I am really sorry.'

Campaigners have argued that violence against women remains a significant issue across Africa. Last year a Medical Research Council survey revealed that one in four South African men had admitted to raping a woman. Experts believe domestic violence is boosted by the continuing acceptance of traditional gender hierarchies in societies across the continent.

Race row: Shilpa Shetty was subject to vile racial abuse in the British celebrity version of Big Brother Despite the furore, M-Net bosses have said they believed they had taken appropriate action over Tuesday's incident.

Today a spokeswoman confirmed Kuteesa was still in the house. In an interview with South Africa's Times newspaper, publicist Lani Lombard added: 'Big Brother felt it necessary to consult psychologists and all the housemates before taking measures. 'M-Net will continue to take the appropriate actions when irresponsible behaviour results in a contravention of the game's rules.'

Big Brother Africa is broadcast from a purpose-built house in Johannesburg. The reality franchise continues to be popular in many countries around the world. The eleventh and final Channel Four series of the show ended in Britain last month. It suffered a number of controversial episodes, including the notorious January 2007 race row involving Indian beauty Shilpa Shetty and the late Jade Goody. Goody became a national hate figure for racially abusing Shetty, while in 2004 a contestant was thrown out for aggressive behaviour during an episode later dubbed Fight Night. It has since been reported that the programme could be moved to Channel 5 from next year.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...y.html#ixzz0znDebpep

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Reference:
She was just as much in the wrong as he was in my opinion. She didn't have to push her face up against his, just as she didn't have to shove his chest when he touched her hair. Nor did she need to hit him with the bottle. Both as bad as each other. He'll get the worst of the backlash though, because he is male.
I was just about to ask if she had inflicted any kind of violence on him too. Without question he should be removed from the programme, but then so should she if she has acted in a similar way.

They can scream about setting examples about male to female domestic violence all they like, but if she shoved him in the chest and hit him with a bottle and they allow her to stay, is that not setting the example that it's perfectly acceptable for a woman to be violent to a man?
Karma_
Reference:
She was just as much in the wrong as he was in my opinion. She didn't have to push her face up against his, just as she didn't have to shove his chest when he touched her hair. Nor did she need to hit him with the bottle. Both as bad as each other. He'll get the worst of the backlash though, because he is male.
Totally agree....
stonks
Reference:
She was just as much in the wrong as he was in my opinion. She didn't have to push her face up against his, just as she didn't have to shove his chest when he touched her hair. Nor did she need to hit him with the bottle. Both as bad as each other. He'll get the worst of the backlash though, because he is male.
I can not agree. he stood up and Poked his finger in her face he then did not touch her hair he forced her head to one side. He behaved in a  domineering manner. And should be kicked out. He started it by becoming aggressive with his whole body.

Nob end.  All I saw her doing was standing up to him in an equal verbal argument that he turned violent.
DING DONG! THE WITCH IS DEAD.
He was pointing in her face, he pulled her hair (enough to make her head pull to one side) so in defence she pushed him, he then pushed her and punched her.  And this makes her as bad as him?

Poor little man, I feel so sorry for him.

No really, she's obviously a right violent harridan.  She really needs to take responsibility for daring to have an opinion and answer back a superior man.

Hey at least 3 out of 4 men haven't raped anyone. Yay!

Urgh.  This reminds me why I can't be fecking arsed with this place the last few days.
Leccy
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Violence towards anyone whether it be m/f, f/m, m/m, f/f, should not be tolerated and by not throwing her out too theyre as good as condoning it which in my book is totally out of order. I'm so glad that i dont live in africa.
There were having a heated debate and he turned it violent it was not equal. She is not to blame in the same way.
DING DONG! THE WITCH IS DEAD.
Reference:
Both as bad as each other.
  WTF He stood up, started pointing/waving his finger in her face, grabbed hold of her ear/hair, she pushed him away to defend herself, (she just happened to be holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other,) he wholloped her in the face, then pushed her hard making her nearly fall over, whilst telling her 'Don't fk with me white(???) girl. Yeah, she was mouthing off, but her the physical aggressor, hardly!
FM
Reference:
She was just as much in the wrong as he was in my opinion. She didn't have to push her face up against his, just as she didn't have to shove his chest when he touched her hair. Nor did she need to hit him with the bottle. Both as bad as each other. He'll get the worst of the backlash though, because he is male.
I thought that...from what i saw she got the exact reaction she was after from him and she was getting in his face and wouldn't leave it alone....and she was laughing and smirking at him after the event.
Croctacus
Reference:
And this makes her as bad as him?
No, it doesn't make her as bad as him (IMO). He was the one who couldn't argue constructively to begin with and he's the one that put his hands on her. After seeing the video I can understand her reaction after he pulled her hair, but before that it was pretty obvious things were gonna get out of hand and I don't think she handled the argument very well. I'm not for one second condoning his behaviour, and I'm not saying she should have cowered and took what he dishing out verbally, but getting up in his face and fighting fire with fire wasn't going to get anyone anywhere. And I stress, that is not me saying his behaviour was acceptable, cos it wasn't. It was shit and he is shit and unfortunately, appears he will be celebrated by some poxy mysogyny supporting tribe for his actions.

I totally applaud her for standing her ground but not in the way she did (if that makes sense).
Karma_

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