adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 30-YEAR-OLD man went berserk and torched his father’s homestead after the old man ordered him to move out since he is a grown up man. Elson Ncube of Zuzaphi area also stabbed a heifer belonging to his father, Jenamiso Ncube (62). Elson appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philemon facing two counts of malicious damage to property charges.
Mr Philemon ordered Elson to be examined by two doctors to ascertain his mental stability.
He was remanded in custody to 31 August.
Elson arrived at his father’s homestead while the old man was at his workplace in Figtree area and caused the damage.
Elson told the court that he was angered by the fact that his father had chased him out of the home.
“I was staying together with my father at his homestead and all of a sudden he ordered me to leave. He told me that I was old enough to sustain myself and he also told me that I was lazy as I have been expecting him to fend for me while I sit at home.
“This made me angry because my father is my guardian and it is his responsibility to fend for me when I am not working. Besides, jobs are difficult to come by. In addition to chasing me away he also took my clothes,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said Elson destroyed his father’s property on 12 August around 10pm.
She said Elson arrived at his father’s homestead and stood in the yard and started shouting complaining about the way the old man was treating him. He also uttered abusive words cursing his father in the process.
Mrs Sibanda said two neighbours heard him and went to inquire but they remained at the gate out of fear that he would harm them.
She said the neighbours returned to their homesteads assuming that Elson would cause a scene and then go away as there was no one at his father’s homestead.
“Elson then set fire on two of the old man’s grass thatched huts and they were reduced to ashes. The value of the two thatched huts is R800. On the following day Elson returned to his father’s homestead at night and stabbed one brown heifer valued at $400 on the throat, killing it instantly,” she said.
Mrs Sibanda said the old man’s neighbours then alerted him on the damage which had been caused by his son during his absence.
The matter was reported to the police resulting in Elson’s arrest.
Online Reporter