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ASSUALT OVER E100: HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE ALLEGES CORRUPTION

By Phumelele Mtsetfwa | 2025-03-14

An employee of Mbabane Government hospital has alleged that there is corruption at his workplace after he was shown a doctor’s report indicating that he allegedly strangulated his former girlfriend.

Siphiwo Nhlabatsi, who claimed to be working at the hospital, was adamant in court that there is corruption at his place of work.

Nhlabatsi was taken to court by his former girlfriend Ayanda Dlamini, who is a sales agent in South Africa.
She alleged that she was strangulated and slapped by the accused for allegedly refusing to be intimate with him in the morning yet they had consented sexual intercourse the previous day. Nhlabatsi was subsequently charged with contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018 in thathe allegedly assaulted her with open hands and further pushed her against the ground. Nhlabatsi denied the charge.

Dlamini said they were not in a serious relationship with the accused, however, she visited him in his house at Msunduza on December 21, 2024. They spent the night together. She said they had consented sexal intercourse before going to sleep and next morning, the accused wanted them to have sexual intercourse but she refused. Dlamini said she informed the accused that the only thing which would make her feel better was wine.

“The accused did not buy me wine, I asked for E100 for bus fare which he had promised to give me the previous day,’’ said Dlamini.
She said the accused first told her that the money was in his Mobile Money account, however when he came back from withdrawing it, he only gave her E10. She said when she pleaded with Nhlabatsi to give her the full amount as per their promise, he told her that he would not give her because she refused to be intimate with him the entire night.

“I wanted to go home in Mhlosheni, I stood in front of him and he slapped me but I continued begging him for money,’’ she said.
Dlamini alleged that the accused called her names, stating that he was not going to give her any money. She stated that Nhlabatsi pushed her against the ground and strangulated her then she started screaming, drawing the attention of those who were nearby.

Dlamini said women from the nearby markets surrounded them and told Nhlabatsi to stop assaulting her because police would arrest him, he allegedly responded by saying he was not scared of them (police) as they were his friends.
She also claimed that Nhlabatsi said the magistrates were also his friends.
Dlamini said the people assumed that she was a one night stand or a sex worker. She alleged that an unknown taximan rushed her to the police station and she was then taken to hospital by the police and opened a case.

Dlamini told the court that the doctor who was assisting her alleged that she received a phone call from Nhlabatsi asking her to destroy the report.
Nhlabatsi first said he did not have any questions to ask the complainant even though he had denied the charge.
Senior Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati asked the accused if he said was sure that he had nothing to ask the complainant, he then said everything Dlamini was based on lies.
He asked the complainant the name of the doctor who had assisted her but, she said she would not disclose that.

Nhlabatsi then alleged that Dlamini had relatives at the hospital. the complainant informed the court that her aunt used to work there as a matron but, she was no longer there.
Nhlabatsi was shown the doctor’s report which indicated that the complainant had minor injuries in the neck. After this he requested that the doctor must be brought before court. The matter was postponed to March 27.

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