Mbabane – Stinah Melissa (24) of Siphocosini, had the last laugh following that after her appearance in court on charges of stabbing her baby daddy, Khayelihle Fakudze, with a screwdriver, further threatening to harm him with an iron rod, she got the court to focus on resolving further occurrences by imposing an unexpected E800 monthly child support from her complainant.
Melissa showed up at the Mbabane Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with two counts that stem from assaulting a couple.
On the first count, she assaulted the baby daddy, Fakudze. Resulting in the second count was the fact that she was charged with common assault for allegedly slapping Nokwanda Sibanyoni in the face with open hands whom she found with him on August 21, 2025.
The couple laid the charges. Consequently, she was charged under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018.
Before the Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi issued the maintenance order, Melissa had a moment to explain her actions, pleading guilty to the offences.
Melissa told the court that she had gone to the baby’s father’s house to ask for baby pampers. Upon arrival, she found him with the other woman, allegedly Sibanyoni.
Fakudze quickly dismissed Melissa, ordering her to leave the baby behind, but she refused. Her reason for the refusal was that the child was still breastfeeding. But she said she could not take what happened next.
“They both took my baby and tossed her around. I got angry and assaulted them with open hands. Then I saw a screwdriver, picked it up and stabbed him. His girlfriend ran with my child, and I chased her,” Melissa said.
The Principal Magistrate listening and scribbling notes in her files seemed to be empathetic. She issued the maintenance order within the course of the matter.
Fakudze would instead deposit a E800 per month contribution for the baby’s upkeep. By the order of the court, Fakudze shall begin depositing the funds by the end of September 2025.
He was further ordered to buy clothes for the child when required or seasonally, to refrain from violent behaviour towards Melissa, and not to expose her to financial abuse.
The magistrate advised Melissa to report Fakudze to the authorities if he defies the court order.
But she did not escape the crime.
The court fined Melissa E5,000, in default of payment, five years imprisonment, with the sentence suspended for three years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within that period.
She also cautioned her against visiting his house.
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