Trial date set for man who stabbed headmistress

Nhlonipho Nyathi (29), from Jabulani Village in Ntabazinduna is being accused of attempted murder following the incident.
He was remanded in custody and has been appearing for routine remand since early November when he was arrested.
Nyathi appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sophie Matimba yesterday and was remanded to 12 January next year for routine remand.
However, Mr Malvern Nzombe, for the State told the court that 16 January had been set as the trial date at the regional court.
On 11 November while at the school, Nyathi was summoned to a hearing over allegations that he was in love with a pupil at the school.
The pupil was doing Form Three when the incident occurred.
The hearing was being chaired by the headmistress, Mrs Concillia Ngwenya, and in attendance were other teachers, Messrs Pritchard Bhebhe and Wilson Choto as well as Mrs Ruth Dziva. During the course of the hearing, the court heard that Nyathi requested to be excused for a while and he went to his cottage where he allegedly collected a knife.
On his return and after the resumption of the hearing, Nyathi allegedly stabbed Mrs Ngwenya 15 times all over the body.
He went to the classroom where the girl he was being accused of being in love with was writing end of year examinations and stabbed her twice, once in the chest and at the back.
He then proceeded to Ms Mercy Muleya’s cottage, whom he allegedly wanted to stab for having forced the girl to report that they were in love but could not get her as she had locked herself indoors.
Mrs Ngwenya was admitted at the Pettigrew Women’s Surgical Ward at the United Bulawayo Hospitals for two weeks while the girl was also admitted for some days at Inyathi District Hospital.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ngwenya is reportedly recovering at her Cowdray Park house. Her nephew Mr Clement Zulu yesterday said they were happy as a family that she could now do almost everything on her own.
“She is recovering and she can now do different activities. We are happy that she is slowly gaining her fitness and we eagerly wait for the trial date,” he said.