A 35-year-old woman Matshidiso Mtsweni who allegedly assaulted a 13-year-old boy was arrested and appeared at the Ogies Magistrates’ Court yesterday, 18 September 2019.
The arrest came as a result of a video clip circulating in social media circles went viral. In the video, a woman is clearly seen assaulting the victim at Phola, near Ogies, on Sunday, 15 September 2019. Information at police disposal suggests that the woman’s anger may have been caused by the victim has had a quarrel with her child.
The woman reportedly tied the victim’s hands and legs with a rope against a pole at the veranda of a shack in her yard. She then assaulted him using a wooden stick and thereafter, called her child as well as six other children aged between 10 and 15, who were playing soccer nearby to come and join in the assault until he (victim) broke his right hand.
On Tuesday, 17 September 2019, the suspect was handed over to the police by a group of women belonging to a community movement structure in the area, who apparently conducted a civilian’s arrest.
During the appearance in court, Mtsweni was granted an R500 bail with the matter postponed to 08 October 2019, pending further investigation. She’s facing a charge of assault with an intention to cause serious bodily harm.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has applauded the women for working together with the police in the fight against crime and not taking the law into their own hands.