Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Writer
AN 89-year-old bedridden woman has died after allegedly going into shock when her male neighbour was caught caressing her while attempting to sexually assault her.
The accused, Khulekani Mlilo (38), from Insuza in Matabeleland North Province, appeared for trial on Tuesday before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla, facing a charge of attempted rape.
Mlilo pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that on August 6 this year, Mlilo, who lived near the late grandmother — whose name is being withheld for ethical reasons — went to her homestead.
“The grandmother was critically ill and could neither talk nor walk. Mlilo entered the bedroom and lowered his trousers to knee level. He was seen by a young child who ran back to call her aunt and sisters, and they caught him when he was about to rape her,” said Ms Mutapi.
In his defence, Mlilo said: “I just entered the bedroom while no one was at home. No one noticed me. I was there to check on her. I did not fondle her or attempt to rape her.”
However, the aunt, who is a State witness, told the court she caught Mlilo red-handed.
“We were sitting under a shed when the child came running to tell us that there was a man in the grandmother’s bedroom. We rushed there and found Mlilo caressing the ailing grandmother while he had lowered his trousers to knee level, attempting to rape her. Upon seeing us, I screamed and he froze.
He could not even try to cover his private parts.”
The visibly distressed aunt added that what pained the family most was that the grandmother, who had not been able to open her eyes for months, briefly opened them on the day of the incident.
“We were hoping she would recover, but after the attempted rape she became very ill. A medical practitioner monitoring her condition said the incident shocked her severely and worsened her illness, leading to her death,” she said.
Another witness testified: “My child saw him caressing our grandmother and, in shock, ran to inform us. We caught him half-naked, kneeling between the granny’s legs and attempting to rape her. He failed to flee and we reported him to the police, leading to his arrest.”
The matter was postponed to December 4, 2025.
