Landlord assaults woman over electricity money

News
A NKULUMANE tenant earned the wrath of her landlord after she refused to give him $10 to be paid towards the electricity bill, saying he would squander it on beer like he had done before.

A NKULUMANE tenant earned the wrath of her landlord after she refused to give him $10 to be paid towards the electricity bill, saying he would squander it on beer like he had done before. PRESTIGE GAMA OWN CORRESPONDENT

This did not go down well with the landlord, Pardon Katapa (33), who barged into his tenant’s room while she was naked and assaulted her.

Katapa appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Chipumha-Dube facing a charge of physical abuse for violating Section 4(1) (a) of the Domestic Violence Act.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to today for continuation of trial.

Prosecutor Kenneth Shava told the court that on November 3, Katapa demanded money for electricity from Nyaradzo Maphosa, but she refused, alleging he would spend it on beer as had become the norm.

In her statement, Maphosa said she paid her rentals and was going to purchase prepaid electricity, as they had previously gone without power each time the landlord was given the money because he squandered it all on alcohol.

“My landlord always asks for electricity money, which he usually uses to buy beer,” she said.

“This month I decided not to give him, but to go buy (electricity) myself.

“He barged into my room while I was naked with my husband coming from the bathroom.

“He demanded the money, which I refused to give him. I tried to push him outside since I was from the bathroom.

“He became violent and started shouting at the top of his voice while pushing me onto my bed and assaulting me.

“My husband could not do anything because he was not feeling well, but he just told me to go and report to the police.”

Katapa allegedly hurled bricks and stones at Maphosa as she made her way to the police station to make a report.

Maphosa’s husband Martin Ngwenya told the court that he was embarrassed by his landlord’s behaviour.

“He went crazy and for moment I thought he was possessed by a spirit,” he said.

“I could not rescue my wife from the attack, but I told her to report the matter to the police.”

However, Katapa denied assaulting Maphosa, saying they had a misunderstanding over the money she was refusing to pay.

“She insulted me then I pushed her down (but) I did not assault her,” he said.