Assault charges against abused woman dropped
A young mother charged with assault on her boyfriend walked out victorious as charges against her are dropped
AFTER spending the night in jail for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, Brightness Ntozakhe Zungu (26) from Nongoma emerged victorious at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.
The court found no evidence to support allegations against her and all charges were dropped.
The young mother was charged with assault after her lover accused her of beating him up last week.
The father of her two children opened the case at the Empangeni Police Station a few days after Zungu opened a similar case against him.
According to Zungu, the ordeal started when the pair had an argument over their house keys last Saturday.
‘I asked my colleague to fetch a key from him, but he was disrespectful to her. When I asked about it later and questioned his lack of respect towards me and my colleagues, he pouncing on me,’ said Zungu.
‘He locked out both our children, climbed on me and started beating me with his fist on my face. I couldn’t get up because he was on top and I struggled to free myself.’
PHOTO: Wellington Makwakwa
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According to Zungu she suffered major facial injuries which resulted in her right eye being completely shut from all the blows.
She spent a night in hospital.
Zungu’s boyfriend was then arrested and charged with assault, but released on bail two days later.
In a surprising twist, after being freed from jail, Zungu’s boyfriend also opened a similar case against her.
She was also arrested and spent a night in police custody.
‘I was shocked to be arrested, especially since I was the victim and opened a case against him.
‘He told the police I beat him up but he doesn’t even have evidence of it,’ said Zungu.
Speaking to Zululand Observer, the young mother said she now has a protection order against her boyfriend.
‘All I want now is justice for all the pain. This was not the first time he abused me physically, but now I’m taking a stand and saying enough is enough.’
Community support
On Monday morning, members of women organisations supported Zungu in court.
‘We are tired of men who abuse women because they think they are weak. It is time we all take a stand against these attacks and make a statement that we will not be intimidated,’ said Nqobile Mkhize, a member of ‘Be That Strong Woman’ initiative.
‘We are happy about the outcome of the case and we will support Zungu as she moves forward with the case against her boyfriend.’
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