Man gets four years for attempted murder

Nqobile Ndiweni (32), of Masekesa village pleaded guilty to attempted murder before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Owen Tagu.
Three years of his sentence were suspended for five years on condition that he is not within that period convicted of any offence of a similar nature.
In passing sentence, the magistrate noted with concern that a number of people had lost their lives through the use of knives. He said where dangerous weapons were used deterrent sentences were called for.
The State case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Jabulani Mhlanga, was that on 2 November last year, Ndiweni and his uncle were among villagers drinking beer at Malanda Business Centre.
At about 8pm, Ndiweni’s uncle and Cabangani Vundla had a misunderstanding. Ndiweni intervened and separated them as they were on the verge of a fistfight.
Vundla then left the business centre.
Around 8.30pm, Ndiweni and his brother also left the business centre and the uncle followed and stopped them.
He accused Ndiweni of interfering while he was trying to discipline Vundla and then slapped him once on the left cheek.
Ndiweni drew an Okapi knife from his trouser pocket and stabbed the uncle once in the chest, head and back before running away to his homestead.
The uncle was picked up by the roadside groaning and was taken to hospital.