By Delisa Thwala
The Mbabane Magistrate court was of a sad ambiance as two men appeared before Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi for contravening section 77 (1) (a) of the sexual offense and Domestic Violence Act 15/2018.
First to appear was 45-year-old Sipho Sacolo of the Siphocosini area under chief Jabhane is said to have on May 11, 2024, near the Siphocosini area wrongfully, unlawfully assaulted one Nhloniphile Dlamini being girlfriend the accused plank several times all over the body and thus contravened the said Act.
Sacolo pleaded guilty to the charge and said anger after the couple’s argument overcame him and then he reached for the plank.
A 33-year-old man Ndumiso Nxumalo was arrested and charged with the rape and robbery of a cellphone worth E1 500. He appeared at the Mbabane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
On the first count, he was charged with contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act in that, on Friday at Nkhanini he intentionally raped the complainant without using protection.
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According to the charge sheet, the offense was accompanied by aggravating factors because the accused did not use protection during the commission of the offense, exposing the victim to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS.
It was alleged that Nxumalo used violence to induce fear in the complainant. It was stated that in the event of conviction, his particulars would be included in the National Register for Sex Offenders.
On his second count, the accused was charged with robbery, in that on Friday he unlawfully took a navy-blue Samsung phone worth El 500.
Nxumalo was accused of threatening the complainant that if she refused to give him the items, he would stab her with a knife.
The accused elected to conduct his defense in court after his legal rights were explained to him.
The magistrate ordered that blood samples be taken from the accused for investigation purposes.
The magistrate remanded the accused in custody until May 24, 2024, pending committal at the High Court. He was advised by the court to move his bail application to the High Court.
In the same court, a Man paid back a complainant E12 000 in court, the complainant counted the money, and the magistrate ordered him to deposit it into her bank account when the court had adjourned.
The magistrate also ordered the accused to send the outstanding E300 to the complainant through eWallet. Manana was remanded out of custody until May 22 for continuation of the matter. He is said to have committed the offense in April.
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Manana, who was represented by an attorney, was said to have intentionally misrepresented himself to the complainant and promised that he would get a house at Malunge Township in the Hhohho region.
Then 38-year-old man, Nkosinathi Manana of Riverview, was arrested and charged with theft by pretenses after he took E12 000 from a woman and promised to get her a house, he was said to have obtained a total of E12 300 in cash from the complainant.
During the hearing, the accused asked to compensate her. Manana appeared before Mbabane Magistrate Innocent Motsa on Monday.
