Man assaults wife after buganu spree

PIGG’S PEAK – A man assaulted his wife with a knobkerrie and broke his sister’s windows after imbibing buganu.

Machwele Mtsetfwa (41) of Msinda under Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe was charged for contravening Section 77(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018 in that upon or about March 11, 2023 and at or near Msinda in the Hhohho District, the accused person, being husband to Nobuhle Mabuza, did wrongfully, unlawfully and intentionally assault her with a knobkerrie on the left leg and further threatened to hack her with a bush knife and such conduct caused imminent harm to the complainant.

Contravening

The accused was further charged for contravening Section 77(1)(h) of the SODV Act 15/2018. He is said, on the same day, and at the same place, did wrongfully, unlawfully and intentionally damage windowpanes of Nomsa Maphanga being his sister, with a knobkerrie and a bush knife which were valued at E2 000, a conduct that caused harm to the complainant.

In mitigation on the sentence, the accused informed the court that he had imbibed buganu during the commission of the crime and pleaded for leniency. “It was a mistake in both incidents as I had drunk buganu. I apologise for my actions and want to promise, especially my wife, that it will never happen again. I was an animal on that day,” he said in court.

He said the reason he ended up assaulting his wife was that they argued after he refused her permission to visit home. “I will pay money equivalent to the value of the windows when we get paid at work this month,” he said. The accused was warned to stop drinking alcohol if he turned aggressive thereafter as he might end up killing a member of his family. He was ordered to pay a fine of E2 000.