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PIGG’S PEAK - A man who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend will definitely need a ‘new wardrobe’.

This is because his girlfriend, Nozipho Vilane, and her uncle allegedly burnt his clothes. Siboniso Dlamini, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting Vilane, yesterday appeared before Magistrate Sibonelo Dlamini.

Siboniso was charged for violating the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act in that he assaulted his girlfriend with open hands and fists.

During his appearance, Siboniso (30) pleaded guilty to the charge. He said the woman was his girlfriend and they had a child together. He also said he was planning on marrying her. Further, he also asked the magistrate if they could bring the two together so that he could apologise. However, the magistrate advised him that he should go and apologise to her.

Bandage

The magistrate also wanted to know why the upper part of his head was covered in a bandage. Siboniso said he had been assaulted by his girlfriend and her uncle. He further said they also burnt his clothes and that he remained with the ones that he was wearing in the courtroom.

Siboniso was then asked why he did not lay a charge against the uncle and girlfriend because they had committed an offence.

He said he wanted to apologise to his girlfriend for assaulting her. He pleaded for leniency, adding that he was the breadwinner and had a child to take care of. He insisted that all he wanted to do was to apologise to his girlfriend because he did not want to lose his child. The magistrate warned Siboniso that the offence he had committed was a serious one. She reminded him that there was an increase in the number of such cases of women being assaulted.

She said she had noted that he was remorseful because he pleaded guilty to the charge and he did not have any previous criminal convictions. Siboniso was sentenced to two years or to pay a fine of E2 000.