Times Of Swaziland: 10YRS NO FINE  FOR FEEDING  2 MINORS  HUMAN WASTE

10YRS NO FINE  FOR FEEDING  2 MINORS  HUMAN WASTE
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Sibusiso Zwane on 29/11/2024 09:34:00


MANZINI - The 61-year-old man who forced two minor girls aged eight and nine to
eat human waste has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment without the option
of a fine.
Velaphi Dlamini of Khalangilile, under Chief Lembelele, in the Manzini Region,
was sentenced by Magistrate Justice Mzizi yesterday, at the Malkerns Circuit
Court. However, the elderly man will spend five years behind bars as half of his
sentence was suspended for a period of two years. Dlamini was arrested and
slapped with two counts of contravening Section 48 (1) of the Children’s
Protection and Welfare Act 6 of 2012. According to the charge sheet, in the
first count, on June 7, 2024, while he was at Khalangilile, the elderly man
forced a nine-year-old *Ncobizwe to eat human waste and by so doing, he violated
the said Act.
On the same note, in count two, it is said that on the same day and location, he
also forced an eight-year-old *Grace to eat human waste.It was alleged that when
the incident happened, three minors, who are friends, were at a spaza shop near
their school, changing their sports outfits when the 61-year-old arrived. It was
said that there was human waste inside the spaza shop and the elderly man
enquired about who had defecated and the trio reportedly said they had no idea.
It was said that Dlamini then forced the minors to eat the human waste by
threatening them with a stone, which he was carrying. However, one of the three
minor girls managed to escape. Thereafter, it was said that the man took the
human waste and shoved it into their mouths. During the incident, one of the
girls vomited and Dlamini reportedly forced her to eat the spew along with the
human waste.
Consumed
After the minors consumed the waste, it was said that the elderly man ordered
them to carry some of it before allowing them to go. However, he is said to have
followed them to ensure they did not vomit it. While following them, he is said
to have seen some of their colleagues and shouted about the incident, so that
they could hear that he had made them to eat human waste. This is said to have
made the other pupils to laugh at the duo. Later on, the minors reported the
ordeal to their parents and/or guardians, one of whom instructed them to brush
their teeth. After that, the parents and/or guardians subsequently reported the
incident at Malkerns Police Station.
A day after the incident, it was said that the minors complained of stomach
aches and were rushed ­­­­to Mankayane Government Hospital, where they were
treated and subsequently discharged. During his trial, the accused person
pleaded guilty to both charges and the court found him guilty as charged and
based on his own plea as well as  and evidence against him.
Furthermore, the court said the accused person is a 61-year-old man and should
be examplary in the community as a senior citizen.
“The act of feeding minor children faeces is barbaric and amounts to inhumane
and degrading treatment,” the court said. Therefore, it said it has a duty to
protect the minor children a guardian of all minors. It added that it is its
duty to mete out a sentence that will deter the accused and society from
engaging in such offences.  Thereafter, for each of the counts, the court
sentenced to elderly man to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine.
However, it suspended half of the sentences for a period of two years.
*Not real names.