Veteran designer David Tlale has spoken out in his own defence against sexual assault claims made by his protege, Sindile Zack Dudumashe.
David Tlale denies sexual assault claims
In a statement quoted by IOL News, Tlale described the shocking accusations levelled by the renowned businessman as “very serious and quite damning.”
Not only has Tlale stressed that the sordid acts described by Dudumashe are “categorically false”, but the leading fashion designer accused his protege of undermining “the lived experiences of those who are real victims of sexual assault of any nature.”
“While I consult with my internal team of experts on this matter, this shall be the first and only comment on this issue until I am advised otherwise,” Tlale stated.
The 47-year-old was thrust into a sexual assault scandal this past weekend when Dudumashe posted his tell-all on Instagram.
In a post that has since gone viral, the self-proclaimed ideator detailed how, at 21, Tlale allegedly lured him into a ‘friendship’ after meeting at African Fashion International (AFI) where he worked.
According to Dudumashe, Tlale allegedly drugged and sexually abused him. It’s unclear when exactly this took place but Dudumashe hinted at a period during the pandemic when his mental health was at its worst.
Two weeks out of rehab, Dudumashe claimed, Tlale, who had allegedly been dodging confrontations about his supposed empty promises, talked the young protege into working for his brand’s PR. This too, the entrepreneur added, was allegedly exploited by the veteran fashion designer.
“He would ask I write him pressers, sponsorship proposals and other strategies/copy, promise to pay me, often in clothing but wouldn’t actually, and when I’d remind him, he’d get defensive and gaslight me,” he claimed.
Dudumashe further revealed that he left his job at Tlale’s fashion house after three months “and swore never to work in the fashion media industry again.”
It took the young talent three years to gather the courage to come forward and blast Tlale. This, he said, came after years of depression, enduring self-deprecating thoughts and contemplating suicide.
“Today, [three] years later is the first time I share this with anyone and it’s on here. I don’t want anyone to play me the world’s smallest violin, victim mentality is not in my nature. I guess it’s solely me transcending past this and basically saying f*** you so much [David Tlale]! You’re a rapist, a couch caster and overall a narcissist,” Dudumashe wrote.
Read Dudumashe’s tell-all letter below:
