The Mtubatuba Regional Court sentenced a 51-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm to his niece (13) in April.

The accused and victim lived in the same home. On the day of the incident, the accused arrived home and found his sister – the complainant’s mother – seated with her three children.

Brandishing a bush knife, he approached his sister, swore at her, and threatened to kill her.

He then turned to the victim and asked her why she was looking at him. Before she could reply, he hit her with the bush knife.

While trying to defend herself, she was injured, sustaining an open wound and fracture to her thumb. The victim was taken to hospital, and the matter reported to the police.

The accused was subsequently arrested.

In aggravation of his sentence, Prosecutor Siphelele Mdluli told the court that the accused was an elder and had an obligation to protect the family – instead, he became the perpetrator.

The Victim Impact Statement compiled by the victim’s mother outlined how traumatised they all are by the accused’s actions.

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