Woman feared being raped by her stepson

A woman from Bulawayo's Nkulumane 12 had no peace in her life as she feared being raped by her stepson who was now in the habit of just entering her bedroom without giving much consideration to whether she was dressed or not.

Sarudzayi Sithole claims that Thulani Sithole was a potential rapist following his behaviour of storming into her bedroom as he pleased.

Fearing to be a rape victim, Sithole applied for a protection order against Thulani making it clear that she wanted him to stop entering her bedroom.

"He insults me saying I killed his father. Since his father's death in 2004 he has been disrespectful and now he just enters my bedroom without knocking, at times finding me undressed.

"I am now afraid he will end up raping me as he is always threatening me," said Sithole.

She further revealed that Thulani was bitter and capable of doing anything to hurt her as he believed she was the one who killed his father.

She told the court that Thulani should also be stopped from assaulting, insulting and locking her out of the house.

In response to the allegations, Thulani did not dispute anything saying: "The house belonged to my late mother and father therefore I have every right to be in that house."

Thulani got the shock of his life when Sithole produced a marriage certificate after telling the court that the woman just cohabited with his late father.

The presiding magistrate Tancy Dube told Thulani that Sithole had every right to be at the house as she was legally married to his late father.

The protection order was granted in favour of Sithole.