Mbabane – Twenty-three-year-old Zwelakhe Masilela of Ngwenya appeared in court after allegedly smashing his “baby mama’s” cellphone on the ground.
On Wednesday, Masilela was fined E5,000 or faced five years in prison after being found guilty on two counts of contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act, 15/2018.
According to the charge sheet, on May 18, Masilela assaulted his girlfriend and damaged her cellphone. Count One accused him of wrongfully and unlawfully assaulting Sibongangaye Dube by striking her twice on the face with open hands and kicking her all over the body. Count Two charged him with contravening Section 77(1)(h) for wrongfully and unlawfully damaging a Redmi Note 12C cellphone valued at E3,000, belonging to Ms. Dube.
He was found guilty of the offenses by Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi.
During the court proceedings, when questioned by the magistrate about why he assaulted the complainant, Masilela attributed the incident to a “misunderstanding” and stated that he acted “out of anger.”
For Count One, the assault charge, Masilela was sentenced to pay a fine of E5,000 or face five years imprisonment. However, E3,000 of the fine was suspended for three years on the condition that he is not convicted of any similar offense or any contravention of Section 77 of the SODV Act 15/2018 during the suspension period.
For Count Two, the property damage charge, Masilela was ordered to pay a fine of E1,000 or serve 10 months imprisonment. This sentence was suspended on the condition that he compensates the complainant for her damaged phone. The court noted that the cellphone had already been brought before the court, with Masilela having taken it for repairs.
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