A 32-year-old man from Cowdray Park suburb has been arrested for fatally assaulting his 19-year-old wife following a heated argument.
Jabulani Phakathi got home around 10 pm in a drunken state and woke his wife, Siphathisiwe Ndlovu, and an argument ensued between the two over an undisclosed matter.
Phakathi allegedly hit Ndlovu and she sustained severe injuries and a deep cut on the head.
A source who spoke to CITE on condition of anonymity said Phakathi came home drunk and started having an argument with the now-deceased.
“They had an argument at night after he came home drunk. The man then started beating the woman and she sustained severe injuries. She had a bad cut on the head and to think the man was hitting a defenceless woman, the mother of their one-year-old child,” the source said.
“Here in Cowdray Park, one issue that we really need to address is that of drug and substance abuse. Most people are abusing “njengu” and look now where it has left a young woman. The man is now incarcerated, what will happen to the child? We really hope that this matter will be addressed before more tragedy happens.”
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
“Police are investigating a murder case of Siphathisiwe Ndlovu, a female adult aged 19 years of Cowdray Park, Bulawayo who was killed by her husband, Jabulani Phakathi a male adult aged 32 years, of the same address. On May 2, 2023, at around 2200 hours the accused person came from work and found the now deceased sleeping in her spare bedroom and woke her up. The now deceased and the accused person went out of the house, whilst they were outside the two had a misunderstanding and the accused person assaulted the now deceased,” Insp Ncube said.
“Neighbours heard the now deceased screaming for help and woke up to assist her but they found her lying down facing upwards bleeding from the mouth and had a deep cut on the head. An ambulance was called and she was ferried to hospital for treatment. During the early hours of May 3, she passed on. A police report was then made leading to the arrest of the accused person.”
Insp Ncube urged members of the public to solve their problems amicably and not resort to violence as this results in unnecessary loss of lives.
