Mbabane — “How would you feel if you were traveling with your wife and someone called her promiscuous?” This question was posed by Senior Mbabane Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati to teacher Thembinkosi Maphanga on Thursday, following his conviction for insulting and physically assaulting a couple over a parking space.
On March 2, 2025, in Mbabane, the couple, Akhona Dlamini and his wife Bonkhe Masika, were shopping at Super Spar. After completing their purchases, they pushed their trolley to their car to unload their groceries.
While unloading, with both car doors open, another vehicle approached the adjacent parking space. The driver, Maphanga, was blocked by the couple’s open doors. The couple politely asked him to wait until they finished unloading, the court heard.
However, Maphanga, who faced charges of common assault and crimen injuria, exited his vehicle and aggressively grabbed Dlamini by the arm. He shouted, “Wena nalen****** yakho niyadzelela. Nibobahlonipha bantfu!” (You are being disrespectful. You must respect people).
Unbeknownst to Maphanga, Masika was recording the incident. He continued to shout further insults that could not be repeated. Dlamini testified that he calmly admonished Maphanga, pointing out that he had not retaliated despite the provocation.
Afterward, Maphanga left them to enter the store. Upon his return, he approached Masika’s side of the car and made threats, stating, “Ubohlala etimotweni letikhiyiwe wena ******, ngikubekisile. Ungake nje ubeke lunyawo phansi!” (Stay in the car. I marked you. Do not step outside).
He raised a middle finger at Masika, who was still recording, before leaving in his car. The couple followed him, noted his vehicle’s registration, and reported the incident at the Mbabane police station.
In court, Maphanga admitted his actions and expressed remorse, apologizing to the court and the Dlamini family while pleading for leniency. He mentioned being the sole provider for his sick mother and seven children, earning E470 per month after deductions, following a six-month salary advance for school fees.
Magistrate Vilakati emphasized that encountering people unloading groceries in a parking lot is common and requires patience. He questioned how Maphanga would feel if he were the victim in such a situation.
Maphanga is scheduled to reappear in court on May 30. Magistrate Vilakati ordered him to pay E1000 in compensation to the complainants to contribute to their medical checkups or therapy for the trauma he caused.
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