Mbabane – A 25-year-old woman, Nothando Ndaba, admitted to assaulting her uncle’s wife Ntombikayise Dlamini with a metal rod on the head, a charge which attracted for her a E10 000 fine with an optional four-year imprisonment.
Ndaba appeared on Monday before the Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi after her arrest on two Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018 prohibitive charges of assault and cremen injuria.
On one count, she struck the complainant on the head with a metal rod. Admitting doing this, Ndaba first asked not to explain her reasons.
But she did tell the court briefly that her aunt told her uncle unfounded rumors about her whenever he returned from work.
Ndaba said her aunt accuses her of stealing household belongings, including sanitary pads, money and a cellphone, even though her house was “always closed.”
Ndaba said these allegations led to repeated confrontations, which angered her deeply.
“She used to confront me all the time and even threatened to beat me. I got angry because she always accused me of things I did not do. That was not my intention, the words and actions just came out unexpectedly,” Ndaba said.
Ndaba apologised and asked for a reduced sentence, saying she acted in self-defence.
“It was painful for me because she kept accusing me falsely. I am sorry for what happened,” she said.
Ndaba told the court she had a difficult upbringing. Her mother passed away and her father, who is in Matsapha, is a deadbeat, she said.
Magistrate Nhlabatsi, emphasized on the respect for elders.
“When an elder beats you, you do not fight back. Rather, you run away or report the matter so it can be resolved by the family,” she advised.
The magistrate also warned her against insulting or retaliating against elders, describing it as a “high level of disrespect.”
The court heard that efforts to assist Ndaba to return to school under Vulamasango failed since she had passed the eligible age. Ndaba said she had been unable to complete her education due to financial difficulties.
She was ordered to pay a fine of E5000 or two years imprisonment for the first count and was also ordered to pay a fine of E5000 or two years imprisonment for the second count and both sentences are to run concurrently.
Discussion about this post