**MBABANE:** A 15-year-old boy has told a court in Eswatini that he did not resist when he was allegedly sexually assaulted twice by a 46-year-old female neighbour because he was afraid of her.
The minor, whose identity has been withheld to protect him, gave evidence before Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi during the trial of Nontokozo Sakhile Dludlu. The accused is facing a charge under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 15/2018.
Dludlu is accused of sexually assaulting the teenager on August 19 at Luve. She has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
According to the minor’s testimony, he was a Form I pupil and had known Dludlu for several years because she lived in the neighbourhood. He told the court that his mother died in 2015 and that he had never met his biological father. His grandmother was therefore responsible for looking after him.
The teenager alleged that on the day in question, Dludlu went to his family home, where his grandmother was selling traditional brew. He said the accused was drinking umcombotsi at a makeshift structure in the yard when she allegedly leaned against him in a manner he perceived as flirtatious.
Later, the electricity units at the homestead reportedly ran out. The boy said he went into the house to collect his grandmother’s cellphone so that electricity could be purchased.
He alleged that Dludlu followed him into the house, grabbed him by the hand and threw him onto a sofa. According to his testimony, she then touched him inappropriately before allegedly sexually assaulting him.
The teenager told the court that the alleged assault lasted approximately five minutes. He said the incident happened before he had managed to load the electricity units.
Afterwards, he returned the cellphone to his grandmother and went to his cousin’s home.
The complainant further alleged that Dludlu later called him and instructed him to meet her behind a hut within the family compound. He said he went to the location, where the accused allegedly followed him and again touched him inappropriately before sexually assaulting him for a second time.
He said the alleged encounter ended after they heard his grandmother asking about Dludlu’s whereabouts while she was preparing to close the shebeen.
The teenager testified that Dludlu left first, while he remained behind briefly before also leaving the area.
He later confided in a friend, explaining that he was shocked and struggled to understand why the woman allegedly behaved that way toward him. He said he was initially too afraid to tell older family members about what had happened.
According to his evidence, his brother later questioned him about the incident, prompting him to reveal what he claimed had happened. The matter was subsequently reported to police, leading to Dludlu’s arrest.
The boy was later taken to Dvokolwako Health Centre for a medical examination.
During questioning about why he had not resisted, the teenager maintained that he had not consented to the alleged sexual encounters. He told the court that his failure to resist was because he feared the accused.
He also said Dludlu had never previously flirted with him or shown romantic interest in him. The teenager testified that the alleged incident was his first sexual experience.
The court will consider the evidence presented by both sides as the trial continues. Dludlu remains innocent unless and until the court finds her guilty.
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