Granny sentenced to 6 months for vicious unprovoked barroom-toilet assault

A 50-year-old woman from Pumula Old suburb in Bulawayo has been sentenced to 9 months in prison for assaulting a fellow resident.

Bekezela Ngwenya pleaded guilty before the Western Commonage magistrate, Mrs Leorna Khumalo.

Three months of the sentence were suspended because she did not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

The remaining six months were suspended on condition that she perform 210 hours of community service.

Mrs Khumalo in passing the sentence said the court considered that the offender and the victim know each other.

“Cases of assault have become prevalent in the western suburbs. The sentence was crafted to deter both the offender and other potentials from engaging in assault-related offences and as a reminder of the legal repercussions associated with assault offences, reinforcing the idea that such actions will not be tolerated in the community,” said Mrs Marondedze.

Presenting the case for the State, prosecutor Ms Marriam Chisiiwa said the offence happened sometime in October when the accused met the complainant in a toilet at Zandisa Sports Bar.

The court heard that the offender spit on the complainant’s face without saying anything.

“Bekezela met the complainant in the toilet without saying anything she spit on her face, and after that she hit the complainant with the toilet door on the face” said Ms Chisiiwa.

The court was told that the complainant sustained a swollen right eye as a result of the assault.