Nokulunga Dube
Cynthia Dube, Court Reporter
A WOMAN from Bulawayo has been sentenced to seven months in jail for assaulting her 12-year-old son with an electric cable all over the body and striking him with a stiletto shoe tip on his head several times.
Nokulunga Ncube (35) of Nketa 9 suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube charged with ill-treating her son who is in Grade Seven.
Ncube pleaded guilty to beating up the boy for allegedly stealing his sister’s $1, 50 bus fare.
She said she assaulted her son because it was his second time to steal money.
“My child was becoming a thief. Firstly, when he stole money, l warned him. The second time l became furious and that is the reason why l assaulted him,” said Ncube
The magistrate said Ncube’s actions were not motherly.
“I don’t understand how someone can be so cruel to their own children. Instead of showing your child love and support during his preparations for Grade Seven examinations, you preferred to be a monster,” said Ms Dube.
The magistrate convicted Ncube and sentenced her to seven months in jail.
She suspended two months on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said Ncube assaulted her son after she discovered that he had stolen some money from the house.
“On September 29 this year at around 6AM, the accused person was looking for $1,50 which had gone missing and she found it in the complainant’s satchel,” said Mr Mageza.
He said Ncube assaulted the complainant with a green and yellow electric cable measuring 1,75m all over the body until he sustained some injuries.
She also struck him several times on the head with the tip of a stiletto shoe.
The minor sustained whip marks all over the body and a medical report was produced in court as an exhibit.
The matter came to light when the boy’s teacher noticed some bruises and marks on his cheeks and asked what had happened to him.
He narrated his ordeal to the teacher who called the juvenile’s father – who separated with his mum – to the school.
The boy’s father confronted Ncube before proceeding to the police to make a report, leading to her arrest.
@cynthiamthembo1.