The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 63-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man who has been abusing his 90-year-old father has warned the old man who is now bedridden against returning to his own homestead.Mr Gerald Ndlovu has proclaimed himself the owner of his father’s plot in Silima area.
His father, Mr Bernard Mqegula Ndlovu, has been in hospital for the past three weeks after his abusive son returned home from jail unexpectedly.
His condition is reported to be worsening.
Gerald was in March sentenced to three months imprisonment for assaulting his father for giving him a small portion of food.
Upon his release, Gerald returned home and threatened his father again, leading to his admission to Plumtree District Hospital.
Mr Ndlovu’s eldest son, Mr Mandlenkosi Maphosa said Gerald was now living in his father’s homestead and had claimed ownership of the house.
“Gerald is now at our father’s home at plot 192 in Silima area. He claims that he is now the owner of the house and the property in the house. He is now prohibiting any relatives from entering the house.
“We tried to reason with him but he is not co-operating. He told us that he did not want to see our father in that home or else he would harm him. He told us that it was better for our father to stay in hospital as returning to his home meant that he was walking into his own death trap,” said Mr Maphosa.
“Gerald is now beyond our control and we are left with no other option but to report him to the police because he might harm our father once again.
“My father is not taking these threats well. His condition is really getting worse and he has no peace of mind at all. He recently developed sores on the throat which have been making it difficult for him to eat. He is still stuck to the hospital bed as he cannot move at all.”
Mr Ndlovu said he was shocked when his son appeared at his homestead from prison and said that he had come to kill him.
Mr Ndlovu, who sustained back injuries after collapsing, runs a popular shopping centre in Mangwe District known as Mqegula Shopping Centre.
Gerald had been jailed for attempting to hang Mr Ndlovu on Christmas Day last year after tying a rope around his neck in the latter’s bedroom.
He only released him, leaving the old man unconscious, after discovering that there was nowhere to tie the rope on the ceiling. Mr Ndlovu has on several occasions been assaulted by his son.
The two lived together and Gerald is single.
