Grow up, magistrate tells 71-yr-old man

PLUMTREE magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa yesterday told a 71-year-old man to grow up when he appeared before him for assaulting his wife and telling her that her mother's sexual organs were rotten.

During the heated dispute, the elderly man, Viniga Tshuma struck his wife, Ms Grace Mathe (56) with a chair on her back and punched her several times in the face.

The incident happened in full view of the couple's children.

The dispute between the two ensued when Tshuma accused his wife of being stingy with food while at their homestead in Hingwe area, Bulilima District.

He then assaulted the wife and insulted her in SiNdebele saying her mother's sexual organs were rotten.

Mr Ruvetsa chided him for failing to be exemplary before his family and society at his age.

He said Tshuma's actions were childish for a man his age.

Mr Ruvesta then convicted Tshuma on his own plea of guilty to assault and sentenced him to 105 hours of community service at Ndolwane Primary School.

In passing sentence, Mr Ruvetsa said he spared Tshuma a custodial sentence after he considered his age.

Initially Tshuma had been sentenced to six months imprisonment of which three months were suspended for five years on condition he does not within the period commit an offence of the same nature.

The remaining three months were suspended on condition he performs the 105 hours of community service.

Prosecuting, Mr Paul Mpofu narrated how Tshuma picked up a fight with his wife.

"On 16 November at about 7pm, Tshuma was at his homestead having supper when a misunderstanding arose. He picked up a chair and hit his wife twice on the back. He was stopped by his youngest wife who got hold of the chair," said Mr Mpofu.

"Tshuma proceeded to insult his wife in isiNdebele saying, "mbumbu kanyoko ebolileyo, mdidi kanyoko,", which when translated is 'your mother's rotten v*gina, your mother's anus'. He went on to punch her several times in the face."

In her statement in court, the complainant said: "My husband came home for supper from his second wife's home in the evening.  He found me in the company of my two children.

"I served him his food and he questioned why the children were not eating. I tried explaining that they were yet to have their meal but he did not understand. He went berserk and started accusing me of being stingy and he threw a lump of isitshwala at my face. He called his youngest wife to our home and started accusing me of depriving the children of his youngest wife food," said Mathe.

She told the court that Tshuma started assaulting her with a chair and fists and went on to insult her and her mother.

Mathe reported her husband to the police leading to his arrest.