Community members from Hlalanikahle gathered at Vosman Police Station earlier today after a man who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and vandalised her home was released before appearing in the eMalahleni Magistrate’s Court.

According to Nomasonto Nkosi (38), a resident from Hlalanikahle Ext 3, her boyfriend of a few months attacked her at her home on the night of September 25 after allegedly making threatening phone calls earlier that day.

Nkosi said the man arrived at her house at around 22:00 and broke windows after she told him to go and sleep at his place, eventually forcing his way inside.

“I tried calling the police but couldn’t be assisted in time, before he eventually gained entry into the house,” said Nkosi. “He found me carrying my five-year-old baby on my back, and strangled me and assaulted me.”

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She said her sister, who had also been in the house, managed to rescue the baby and flee, while she also escaped after the suspect slipped and fell on water he had previously poured over her.

“That spilled water is what saved me because I don’t know what could’ve happened if he had not fallen,” the victim said.

The sisters eventually contacted the police who arrested the man in the wee hours of the next day.

However, despite being scheduled to appear in court on September 28, Nkosi said she discovered that the suspect had been released without appearing in court.

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“While I was in court for the case, I just heard people telling me around lunchtime that he was already out before even appearing in court,” said Nkosi. “I also bumped into him that same day.”

When Nkosi and community members visited the station to seek answers today, they were instructed to return tomorrow (October 1) as police were still trying to locate the docket.

“We went in and spoke with some officials inside the station; unfortunately, the docket is currently nowhere to be found, and we have been told to come back tomorrow for answers,” the woman said. “I’m not happy, but I’ll wait until tomorrow to hear their feedback. I’m hoping to get answers as to why the man was not charged when my life is in danger.”

Vosman police spokesperson Colonel Vusi Mahlangu confirmed that the suspect was indeed arrested on the night of the incident and was transported to court on the scheduled date; however, he was released as the court didn’t place his case on the roll.

“We suspect that there is some form of query by the prosecutor that some kind of investigation still needs to be completed, but it is just my opinion that that may be the case,” Mahlangu said. “We are still waiting for the docket to come back to us since it is still in court so that we may see the reason why it was not placed on the roll on Monday.”

@witbanknews Community members from Hlalanikahle gathered at Vosman Police Station earlier today after a man who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and vandalised her home was released before appearing in court. #WitbankNews #eMalahleni #Hlalanikahle #gbv #Vosmansaps ♬ original sound – Witbank News

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