Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A MAN from New Lobengula suburb, who is accused of sexually attacking three minors while the other was watching appeared in court for the trial and pleaded not guilty.
In his defence, Amendo Nyathi (74) said: “I did not sexually attack them. I only ordered them to play with my private parts.”
He said he is not on good terms with the parents of one the victim.
“I strongly suspect that one of the parents influenced the children to fabricate a story that I sexually attacked them. I had a fierce argument with her and she threatened me with an unspecified action. I strongly believe the woman wants to wreck my reputation and get me jailed, “he said.
He also told the court that he keeps pornographic material on his phone and never forced the minors to watch.
“I keep pornography on my phone and it happened that I asked one of the children to look for a certain cellphone number on my phone, unfortunately she stumbled on pornographic material and started to watch. After that she would come with her friends to watch, he said, adding that he is too old to engage in sex.
“I’m now aged 74. I’m failing to have sex. It takes time for my manhood to rise to the occasion and this is worsened by different ailments that I’m suffering from,” he said.
The old man was remanded in custody to 23 September.
It is alleged that sometime in 2023, Amendo Nyathi from New Lobengula suburb invited a girl aged nine to his home.
The minor came with her two friends. When they got to his home, he allegedly handed his cellphone to the minor while a pornography movie was playing.
The court heard that while the minor was watching the X-rated film, Nyathi grabbed her by her hand and led her to his bedroom where he sat on the bed. After that he ordered the minor to undress and removed all his clothes.
He reportedly abused the minor and gave her US$1, telling her not to tell anyone.
Later, on the same day, Nyathi once again sweet-talked an 11-year-old girl to his bedroom where he begged to have sex with her. He allegedly promised to give the minor a lot of money if she would agree.
The minor fell for the trap and he abused her.
He allegedly gave the child US$1 and begged her not to disclose the incident to anyone. The court heard that on the following day, Nyathi, who seems to have an insatiable appetite for minors, went a gear up as he invited another nine-year-old girl who came to his home with her friend. On arrival, he allegedly handed his cellphone to her and asked her to watch pornography videos and promised to give her money. It is alleged the minor watched the videos with her friend. While they were watching, he asked to have sex with them. He lifted them to his bedroom where he allegedly undressed and requested them to remove their clothes and sexually attacked them.
The incident came to light after one of the victims blew the lid and narrated the incident to her sister. The sister of the minor informed their parents leading to the arrest of Nyathi,
He appeared in court for initial remand before regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Maphosa, facing charges of aggravated indecent assault. He was not asked to plead. He was remanded in custody to 19 September 2025.
