Motshane – A 45-year-old man of Motshane was arrested for assaulting his brother with an open hand after they had a heated argument over a water pipe.
Fana Hlatshwako was arrested and charged for violating the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act. He appeared before Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi. According to the charge sheet, on April 19, Hlatshwako assaulted his brother, Sakhile Hlatshwako, who is younger than him. Narrating, Fana said they had an argument about a water pipe which supplies water to their home.
He said he installed the pipes to draw water from upstream to his yard; however, after all that effort, he had the water from his pipes dripping because his younger brother had diverted them more on his side. Fana said they built their homes next to each other and agreed to share the water from the pipe by splitting it into two.
In the heat of the moment, Fana admitted to having unlawfully assaulted Sakhile, using an open hand during the altercation. The magistrate found her guilty of the charge. He was sentenced to serve a two-year prison term or to alternatively pay a E 5 000 fine. One year of the sentence was suspended on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the future.
When the charge was read to him, Fana pleaded guilty, acknowledging his actions. Fana expressed remorse, pleading for the magistrate’s leniency.
“I am not a violent person. It was just a misunderstanding,” he said, adding that he hopes for a chance to move past this incident.
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