'Rapist' boss claims to be in love with his maid

A MARRIED Bulawayo man accused of raping and impregnating his domestic worker has produced WhatsApp messages to prove he had consensual sex with her.

Milton Ndlovu, 36, allegedly raped his 23-year-old maid in May while his wife was away.

He appeared before regional magistrate Crispen Mberewere, facing two counts of rape.

He told the court he was in a relationship with the maid and she agreed to sleep with him.

"Your worship, she was my girlfriend. We used to communicate via WhatsApp during the course of our relationship. She told me that she feared that she could be pregnant and I gave her money to undergo a pregnancy test," said Ndlovu.

"The test came out positive. She told me that she didn't want to keep the pregnancy as she had a boyfriend who is a soldier who wants to marry her."

He produced WhatsApp messages showing conversations between him and her discussing pregnancy issues.

"She asked for some money and she used the money to buy tea leaves and soda powder to make a concoction as she tried to get rid of the pregnancy. However, I warned her against terminating it," said Ndlovu.

He used the WhatsApp messages as a basis to cross-examine the domestic worker who admitted she sent the messages to him.

Ndlovu read out some of the messages in which she told him of several ways in which she was trying to get rid of the pregnancy.

"You even asked for $120 to go to a doctor in order to terminate the pregnancy, isn't it?" asked Ndlovu, to which the maid responded: "Yes."

Giving her evidence the maid insisted Ndlovu raped her twice, in May and June.

She said she did not make a police report in both instances.

"On the first encounter, I didn't report, the second time he raped me in June and I decided to wait for my salary because I feared that once I reported the matter I wouldn't get my money.

"However, they only paid me on the 9th of July and I decided to work for another month and left on July 24," she told the court.

She said upon arrival at her aunt's place she began bleeding and was rushed to Mpilo Hospital where doctors told her she had miscarried.

Trust Muduma, for the State, alleged that in May this year, Ndlovu went to the kitchen where the maid was doing her chores. He allegedly proposed love to her and she turned him down.

"As Ndlovu left for work that day around 7AM, he asked her a question. The maid directed him to the veranda and Ndlovu pulled her to the bedroom while she screamed for help," said Muduma.

He undressed her and removed his trousers before raping her once. Afterwards the woman dressed up, left the bedroom crying and proceeded to the kitchen. Ndlovu went to her and apologised for his actions.

The woman did not tell anyone about the incident.

"On June 13 at around 7AM, the woman was in her bedroom and Ndlovu came from behind, grabbed her and pushed her to the bed. He then raped her once, dressed up and left the room," Muduma said.

He also alleged that the woman sent a WhatsApp text to her aunt telling her about the rape.

"The maid's aunt told her to leave the place at once but she insisted on staying a bit longer to wait for her salary. The maid made a report at Entumbane Police Station leading to Ndlovu's arrest."

The case continues today.