Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A man from the Siganda area in Inyathi District has been arraigned before the court for allegedly flogging and thrashing his two stepsons and denying them food.
Comment Nkomo (34) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Beverly Madzikatire facing two counts of ill-treatment of children as defined in Section 7(1) of the Children's Act, Chapter 5:06.
He pleaded guilty to both counts and was remanded in custody to 10 March for sentencing.
The court heard that from 25 October to 4 December last year, Comment was left with his two stepsons while his wife went to the hospital for delivery.
While his wife was at the hospital, it is alleged that Comment took the two victims to the maize field to fence it with tree branches.
He cut the tree branches and instructed the three-year-old boy to pull them, but the boy failed as they were too heavy.
He grabbed him by the hand and flogged him with a log. It is alleged that, as punishment, he denied him food and poured water on him.
The boy sustained bruises all over his body.
The court heard that on other occasions, he would thrash the five-year-old boy with an electrical cord for no apparent reason and deny him food.
derick.khumalo