Dozi throws a punch
2006-07-04 10:48
Johannesburg - Popular singer Dozi was definitely involved in a fistfight at a nightclub in Nelspruit, but there seems to be different versions on who started the trouble.
Dozi was one of the artists who performed at the Innibos arts festival last week.
Following his concert on Thursday night, the singer and members of his band went to the Stables nightclub where a fight broke out.
The owner of the club, Desmond Bowman, said a Sunday newspaper didn't have the correct facts about how the fight started. According to Bowman, Dozi was the instigator and threw the first punch.
However, Dozi's manager Mimi Smith, said the other person had started the fight.
"I've worked with Dozi for quite a while and I know he won't start a fight without provocation. He would rather walk away and try to avoid the situation."
Bowman said his bouncer saw how Dozi approached a couple in the early hours of the morning and started talking to them. Then Dozi and the man apparently started swearing at one another.
"When Dozi turned around, the man grasped his shoulder to find out what the problem was. It was then that Dozi hit the man."
Bowman said the client hit back and they started to wrestle and fell to the ground. The fight apparently ended when the bouncer pulled them apart and escorted the client out of the club.
Bowman said it was nonsense that Arno Jordaan, another singer, helped Dozi and in the process broke the client's nose.
"Arno wasn't even nearby. He was busy talking to someone."
According to Smith the client had been looking for trouble earlier in the evening when he approached Ricus Nel, one of Dozi's band members, in the bathroom. When Dozi later greeted him, he asked if he was "that windgat singer".
"Dozi turned to walk away when he saw the client was looking for trouble, but he grabbed Dozi's leather jacket."
Smith said Dozi definitely wasn't looking for a fight, but it was possible that he hit someone when he saw trouble was brewing.
She maintained Jordaan joined the fracas and tried to pull the man away from Dozi.
The singers left the nightclub shortly after the incident.