Woman, 31, punches, kicks 5-year-old neighbour

A FIVE-year-old girl was rushed to hospital after her 31-year-old neighbour punched and kicked her for fighting with her daughter, a court heard.

Caroline Ndiweni of Pumula South told a court she beat up the tot after she found her fighting with her child.

She appeared before magistrate Abednico Ndebele facing an assault charge.

Ndiweni, who was not asked to plead, said she did not punch or kick her neighbour's daughter.

"I used a twig to beat the child and not fists and kicks as alleged.

"What happened is that the two children were fighting and I rushed to the scene and I started scolding Lorraine (the neighbour's child)," said Ndiweni.

She said the girl's grandmother exaggerated issues when she reported the incident to the police.

Ndebele remanded Ndiweni out of custody to today.

Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza told the court that on November 25, 2015 at around 5PM Ndiweni got angry after finding Lorraine playing with her child.

"The accused person then started kicking the complainant. She punched her on the chest and on the head," said Mageza.

It was Lorraine's grandmother, he said, who rescued the child.

The prosecutor said Lorraine was referred to hospital and a medical report can be produced before the court as evidence.