Mbabane – A 40-year-old woman of Mangwaneni, Nontobeko Langa was arrested and charged for cutting her husband’s, Phesheya Mohammed, clothes and shoes with scissors worth E12 920 which she said she did after discovering that he was having an affair.
Langa appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court charged for violating Section 77(1)(h) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018.
When she got time to explain her actions, Langa said she acted out of anger after learning that her husband was cheating on her. She said she was even insulted and mistreated by his mistress. Langa told the court that her husband left home and did not return, while his mistress openly disrespected her.
Langa said she asked for a divorce but her husband threatened that she would lose everything, including her children. She added that the constant mistreatment had left her depressed and on depression medication.
Langa further explained that her husband sometimes failed to provide for the family. She said she did not know whether to directly ask the mistress or her husband for family support money because she seemingly calls the shots.
This left her and the children without food, while he enjoyed himself with the mistress, she said.
Mohammed said he laid the charge after he left home without informing his wife, Langa, because she was also doing the same.
Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi said while Mohammed does not face a charge, he exposed his wife to financial abuse and advised him to let her go if he no longer wanted her.
Nhlabatsi then turned to Langa and advised her to consider filing for divorce and that she should look after her health needs first.
“Depression kills. You should leave a marriage where there is no peace or happiness. Children should not be the reason you remain in an unhealthy marriage,” Nhlabatsi said, also advising her to forgive herself, seek counseling, and accept reality.
The court found Langa guilty and sentenced her to pay a fine of E5 000 or serve five years in prison. Three years of the sentence were suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.
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