An 82-year-old Kraaifontein woman has detailed the trauma of taking her grandson under her wing only to be assaulted and left fearing for her life.
Sindiwe Ngqaza, grandmother of Luvo Ngqaza, was temporarily discharged from Karl Bremmer hospital on Friday as she took the witness stand to testify in the Kuils River Magistrate’s Court asking that bail be denied.
Luvo was arrested on July 3 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and contravention of the Older Persons Act.
This came after a cellphone recording of the assault trended on social media and caused public uproar.
Police later revealed that the incident happened in June and the grandmother had initially refused to open a case.
National Prosecution Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Sindiwe Ngqaza testified that her grandson contacted her from the Eastern Cape and told her that he wanted to come to school in the Western Cape.
“The victim stays in her house with Luvo and other grandchildren while the accused’s mother remains in eCala, Eastern Cape. He was (a pupil) and would come from school, change clothes and join his friends where they would be busy with their criminal activities. He would also steal her money and her belongings and sell them to buy drugs.
“On the day of the incident, they had an argument and he warned her that he would beat her up. “He slapped her several times and she fell after losing consciousness. She went to sleep and when she woke up the next day, her left side was paralysed. She is still hospitalised with a stroke,” said Ntabazalila.
In his affidavit the 19-year-old Luvo, who is requesting bail, stated he was a Grade 12 pupil at Masibambane School and before the incident he had intended to go back and complete school.
“I am in the process of preparing for trial exams which I will write in September together with end year exams preparations. I am currently kept at Pollsmoor Prison and it has not been pleasing to be there.
“Although I am kept in the hospital section, I feel uneasy to be here and I have been finding it hard to cope in that environment.
“In the event that this honourable court deems that there are exceptional circumstances that permit my release on bail, I will request that the honorable court consider an amount of R1000 payable by (my) mother.”
Luvo further vowed not to influence or intimidate witnesses and believed his release on bail would not endanger the public or any particular person.
However, Ngqaza stated that she did not want him to be released on bail as she feared being further assaulted.
The investigating officer from the Kraaifontein Detective Unit confirmed that the accused was kept in the hospital section of Pollsmoor Prison because Luvo allegedly told him during his first appearance that he wanted to commit suicide.
He told the court he believes Luvo was not only a danger to his grandmother, but also a danger to himself.
The officer further told the court that some family members wanted the accused to be released on bail while others were opposed to this.
Bail application arguments are expected to be heard in court on Monday.
Cape Times