The kwaZulu-Natal director of public prosecutions has ordered that Public Protector Selby Baqwa face a charge of assault following an incident in Durban on October 30 in which Baqwa allegedly slapped a woman.

Police spokesman Captain Vishnu on Thursday confirmed that provincial director of Mokotedi Mpshe issued a summons against Baqwa.

The summons was issued on Tuesday, after a charge of common assault was made against Baqwa by Dolly Mkhulisi at the Durban central police station on November 7.

She claimed he assaulted her in a room of the Durban City Lodge where the two of them had been staying. She apparently consulted a doctor shortly after the incident.

Baqwa was at that time attending the 13th international ombudsman conference, where he was elected vice president of the International Ombudsman Institute.

The summons requires Baqwa to appear in court early next year.

Naidoo said the summons had not yet been served on Baqwa, who earlier this week denied the allegation against him. Baqwa said it was not unusual for people to sling mud at a person in his position.

His spokeswoman Nicolette Teichmann told Sapa that Baqwa was too painfully aware of his position both in public and in private to become involved in an incident like this.

Advocate Marumo Moerane, who consulted with Baqwa earlier this week, on Thursday said he was not yet aware of the decision to prosecute.

He confirmed that he had been asked by Baqwa to represent him in the event that he was charged.

With acknowledgements to Charmaine Pretorius and Sapa.