Chronicle Editor
Lesley Chikudo
A 36-year-old man from Tshabalala suburb in Bulawayo will spend five years in prison for beating up his nephew.
Tony Ndebele pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before the Western Commonage magistrate Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe yesterday.
In passing the sentence, Mr Chikwekwe said the court took into consideration that the accused and the complainant are related and that Ndebele did not waste the court’s time.
“The accused was supposed to protect his nephew from harm but instead took advantage of his authority as an uncle to abuse the complainant. Cases of physical abuse and assault have become prevalent in the western suburbs. The sentence is meant to deter would-be offenders of physical and serves as a reminder that violence will not be tolerated in the community,” said Mr Chikwekwe.
Presenting the case for the State, prosecutor Ms Christine Kufandikwanwe said the physical abuse happened after Ndebele accused the complainant of calling his mother a witch.
“The offence was committed sometime in October 2024 in Tshabalala suburb when the accused confronted the complainant about calling his mother a witch.
“The accused assaulted the complainant with open hands, clenched fist and also hit him on the head with a dinner plate (sic). The complainant fainted after the assault and was ferried to the hospital for medical attention,” said Ms Kufandikamwe.
In his defence, Ndebele said he assaulted the complainant for chasing his mother together with a minor child out of the house in the middle of the night.
“I assaulted the complainant for kicking mother from her own house in the middle of the night. He chased her out of the house together with a young child at night when it was very dangerous for them to be out in the streets”
The court was told that the complainant sustained a swollen right eye, suffers from chest pains and is unable to lift heavy objects as a result of the assault.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi