BINGA — A 27 –year-old man from the Simathelele area assaulted his 60–year-old father and broke his ribs accusing him of refusing to invite a witch hunter popularly known as tsikamutanda to cleanse the family’s homestead.
Aleck Mugande pleaded guilty to the assault charge when he appeared before Binga resident magistrate Stephen Ndlovu yesterday.
The court sentenced him to two years in jail, but suspended six months of the sentence for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The court heard on March 18 this year, Aleck who has two wives and has his own homestead, stormed his father Window Mugande’s home claiming evil spirits were haunting his family.
He then accused his father of witchcraft after the latter declined to invite the witch hunter.
The court heard an argument broke out and in a fit of rage, Mugande picked up a log and assaulted his father and fractured his three left ribs and jaw.
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The matter was reported to police, leading to the son’s arrest.
In sentencing him, the magistrate said it was taboo for children to beat up their parents, adding a custodial sentence coupled with hard labour sufficed in the case.
Bruce Maphosa prosecuted.