A Big Brother All Stars contestant who hit a female housemate is still on the reality show as broadcaster M-Net has not taken steps to remove him.
On Tuesday night, Ugandan Hannington Kuteesa punched his South African housemate, Lerato Sengadi, in an incident watched by tens of thousands of viewers around the continent.
The two were arguing about a task - related to the scourge of malaria in Africa - and it turned ugly when Kuteesa, 24, shoved Sengadi, 26. The brawl ended in tears with wine bottles flung about after Kuteesa hit Sengadi.
After Sengadi hurled insults and curses at him, Kuteesa appeared unstoppable. While Kenyan contestant Sheila Kwamboka tried to hold him back, he kept trying to get another punch in at Sengadi.
"You hit a woman, dude. How can you do that?" yelled an angry Kwamboka.
The only sanction Kuteesa received was a scolding from Big Brother in the diary room, and an order to apologise .
"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," he sobbed.
But viewers commenting on the show's website have dismissed his apparent contrition as "crocodile tears".
No charges have been laid with police.
Sengadi's mother, Anne, is demanding action.
She said: "I'm very angry about what happened. Lerato can be very vocal, but I have never hit my daughter."
In an earlier Big Brother series, Kuteesa shoved another woman, Malawian contestant Mzamo Chibambo.
People Opposing Woman Abuse manager Wendy Isaacs said she "heard about the incident" and was "outraged at the way M-Net have handled it".
"The fact that the show was aware of his violent nature towards women from the past season means they are not condemning violence against women," she said.
"To not immediately remove the man from the show means they are condoning what he's done. They should get psychological help for Lerato and advise her of her rights. This is a crime."
Mbuyiselo Botha, from the Sonke Gender Justice Network, said: "The show is setting a bad example by keeping him in the house."
Rule 15 of the show states that violent contestants will be immediately removed from the house.
M-Net publicist Lani Lombard said: "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."
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