Mbabane – Lenhle Ngwenya (30) from Mankayane appeared before Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi for sentencing on a charge of abortion.
The offence is said to have occurred on or about 2 November 2025 at Fontein. Ngwenya was charged for not being a medical practitioner unlawfully terminating a pregnancy by using an unknown substance.
Ngwenya, who was represented by an attorney, pleaded guilty.
In mitigation, her lawyer told the court that she did not waste the court’s time and resources, which showed remorse.
She is a first-time offender and a mother of three children who solely depend on her. The accused said she was very sorry for her actions and promised that she would not commit the same offence again.
Her attorney told the court that the situation was beyond her control because the man who impregnated her denied the pregnancy.
She had already spent some nights in custody and said she had learned her lesson. She further explained that she works as a nanny in Fonteyn and did not want to lose her job.
Nhlabatsi disputed allegations that the pregnancy was denied saying that every woman knows their cycle and should take necessary precautions after sexual intercourse, such as using contraceptives including morning-after pills.
She said Ngwenya should also consider family planning to avoid such situations.
Ngwenya was sentenced to a fine of E5 000 or, in default of payment, five years imprisonment. As Ngwenya had paid E2000 bail that money will be converted to the sentence and she is to pay E3,000.
Discussion about this post