Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
FRIENDSHIP turned violent in Emakhandeni after a drinking session allegedly ended in a hospital visit and a prison sentence.
Previous Nyathi (30) appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Pasipanodya Maturure, facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly assaulting his friend with a knobkerrie and an empty beer bottle — because, according to him, his drunk friend was staggering too slowly as they went home .
Nyathi pleaded guilty and was initially sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within five years. The remaining three years are effective.
When asked why he committed the offence, Nyathi told the court it was drunkenness and that he later realised his actions were wrong.
Prosecutor Melissa Dube told the court that the accused and the complainant, Noble Sebastian Maseko, are friends. On 3 December 2025, at around 11AM, the two were drinking at a house in Emakhandeni when Maseko allegedly struggled to walk properly due to intoxication.
Nyathi allegedly lost patience with his friend’s slow pace. The court heard that he struck Maseko once on the back, once on the stomach, and twice on the face with a knobkerrie. He then allegedly swung an empty beer bottle at Maseko, hitting him twice more on the face.
Maseko was rushed to hospital for medical attention, and a police report led to Nyathi’s arrest.
