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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
A 72-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man has been ordered to pay a $30 fine for beating up his 13-year-old granddaughter after she failed to pen his goats.
Michael Ncube of Mhuke area punched Nomvelo Moyo before striking her with a brick on the head while she was at school.
Ncube was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Plumtree magistrate, Taurai Manwere.
He was ordered to pay a $30 fine or sentenced to 30 days imprisonment in case of default.
In his mitigation Ncube told the court that he wanted to discipline his grandchild.
a�?I didna��t mean to harm my grandchild but I just wanted to discipline her. I had told her to pen the goats and on the following morning I realised that she hadna��t and as a result they strayed. This frustrated me a lot as it showed that she doesna��t respect me,a�? said Ncube.
Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said Ncube followed his granddaughter, who is a Grade Seven pupil at Mhuke Primary,A�A�A�A�A� to school where he assaulted her.
a�?On 11 November around 8am Ncube followed his granddaughter to school and summoned her soon after she had dismissed from the school assembly and was proceeding to class in the company of her peers.
a�?Ncube questioned his granddaughter on why she had failed to pen the goats on the previous day but she didna��t respond and remained quiet. This pissed off her grandfather who grabbed her and punched her on the face.
a�?Ncube went on to pick up a brick and struck his granddaughter on the head,a�? said Sibanda.
She said Nomvelo was then advised by her teacher to go home and seek the help of a guardian who could accompany her to a clinic.
She said the girla��s uncle took her to the clinic and made a report to the police resulting in Ncubea��s arrest. . .
derick.khumalo