Man dumps girlfriend in court after phone row

MANZINI – A romantic relationship that reportedly began with a promise of marriage ended bitterly in court after a man announced that he was dumping his girlfriend while she stood in the dock.

The dramatic revelation unfolded before Principal Magistrate Khumalo when Nelisiwe Ngwenya, 42, of Kakhoza under Chief Mkhulunyelwa, appeared on a charge of contravening Section 77(1)(j) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act No. 15 of 2018.

Ngwenya was accused of unlawfully and intentionally depriving and abusing her boyfriend, Phepha Dlamini, by taking his black Redmi A3 cellphone, fitted with a green and transparent pouch, valued at E2 250.

According to the charge sheet, the incident allegedly happened on November 8, 2026, at New Village in the Manzini Region.

When given an opportunity to explain herself, Ngwenya told the court that she had acted out of anger after Dlamini allegedly told her to leave the house where they were staying together.

She explained that Dlamini had previously promised to marry her, claiming that his wife had undergone a procedure that resulted in her womb being removed. Ngwenya said she had consequently believed that Dlamini intended to make her his wife.

However, she told the court that their relationship had become complicated after Dlamini informed her that his wife would be coming, although he had previously indicated that the wife would only return in January next year.

The situation reportedly escalated when Ngwenya took Dlamini’s cellphone and locked him inside the house, leaving the keys outside.

When Dlamini was given an opportunity to address the court, he reportedly indicated that he was ending the relationship because Ngwenya did not believe him when he told her that his wife was coming.

His declaration effectively brought the relationship to an end, leaving Ngwenya facing not only the consequences of her actions but also the collapse of the relationship she had apparently hoped would lead to marriage.

In passing sentence, the court fined Ngwenya E3 000 or one year imprisonment. The sentence was wholly suspended for three years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence during the period of suspension.

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