Custodial dad severely assaults daughter over debt to schoolmate (Hhohho Region, Swaziland)

Although the daughter is named, UNNAMED DAD, who is apparently custodial, has managed to keep his name out of the paper. Seems the daughter had committed the "sin" of borrowing money from a classmate, and had not paid the money back. When her father was informed, he beat the girl so badly that she was unable to walk. She is now hospitalized.

Note the stupidity of the analysis that goes unquestioned by the reporter. The father beat the girl severely under the "influence" of the stepmother? Huh? Was she holding a gun to his head? Was she blackmailing him? Ridiculous. I think it likely that the stepmom was not exactly a benign influence, but I sincerely doubt that she "forced" the father to beat the child nearly to death. Sounds like Daddy is trying to avoid any responsibility for his own actions. And somebody needs to call him out on that, not cater to it.

So what happened to the mother? Is she dead? You won't find out here.

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=8979

Student in hospital after beating by angry father
16 November, 2009 10:00:00
By Njabulo Dlamini

A Form Two student studying at Mlumati High School in the northern Hhohho Region is recuperating at the Mbabane Government Hospital after a severe assault by her father over E10.

Nonhlanhla Hlophe’s sin was borrowing the money from a colleague at school without having informed her parents. Owing to the extent of injuries on her body she had to be transferred from Pigg’s Peak Government over the weekend to Mbabane Government Hospital.

It is said Nonhlanhla’s mate, instead of demanding payment from her at school, went to her homestead and informed the parents about the debt. This provoked her father’s wrath who instantly beat her up.

“Her father severely whipped the young one such that she could hardly walk. Last Friday her teacher, a Mr Ginindza, took her to Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital where nurses were shocked when examining the injuries on her body.

“Ginindza was accompanied by a police officer Ray Nxumalo and a statement was recorded at the Pigg’s Peak Police Station about the assault,” said a well-placed source.

The source said the father had a tendency of beating up his daughter severely apparently on the influence of the step-mother. Police PRO Senior Superintendent Vusi Masuku confirmed the incident adding that officers under Domestic and Violence Unit in Pigg’s Peak were looking for the suspect.

He said assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm charges would be preferred against the father.

Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Director Cebile Manzini-Henwood was reported to be in Senegal when sought for comments on the issue.

Save the Children Swaziland Publicist Elizabeth Kgololo said this was a criminal offence and if relatives had not taken it up with the police, they would ensure this is done for the child’s interest.

“This man should be arrested because these are the things we talk about everyday; disciplining a child is not violence as it doesn’t mean their rights should be violated under pretext of penalising them.

“The issue was between the child and her friend and if parents wanted to venture in, they should have taken the opportunity to educate the teenager on her actions rather than mete out such punishment,” Khololo said.

She said the message being sent to parents was that they should seize such opportunities to educate their children rather than violating them since the youngster could die in their hands.

The Save the Children Swaziland Information Officer said discipline had to be done with love as a way of nurturing or training the young one and set boundaries.

Timphisini MP Jennifer Shiba, under whose constituency the school falls, said she was unaware of the incident but promised to investigate.

“However, I normally get briefings from teachers in schools around here on Mondays and I could be in a position to say something as of tomorrow (today) on this one,” she said.