Inmate bites off fellow prisoner's tongue

A 35-year-old inmate at Khami Maximum Prison has been sentenced to six months in jail after biting off a portion of another prisoner's tongue during a violent altercation.

Dumisani Sibanda, from Nkulumane suburb, pleaded guilty to assault before Western Commonage Magistrate Archie Wochiwunga, who sentenced him to nine months in prison, with three months suspended for three years on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.

Prosecutor Audrey Kufandikanwe told the court that on July 20, Sibanda and 33-year-old Clement Maphosa, both serving sentences at Khami, became involved in a dispute that escalated into a physical fight. The two exchanged insults before engaging in a fistfight. Although other inmates initially intervened, Sibanda allegedly pursued Maphosa when he attempted to flee.

During the confrontation, Sibanda reportedly head-butted Maphosa, causing him to fall to the ground, before strangling him. As Maphosa struggled to breathe, he stuck out his tongue, at which point Sibanda bit off a piece and spat it onto the floor.

Maphosa was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical treatment following the attack.