Komatipoort - A Mpumalanga man who punched his wife during an argument over a cellphone was handed a suspended sentence on Thursday.
After sentencing the tearful man, Magistrate Hazel Khoza gave him some marital advice.
William Ngomane, 30, of Mandulo Trust near the Swaziland and Mozambican border, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm when he appeared in the Tonga Magistrate's Court.
He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with an option to pay a R1 000 fine, which was suspended for three years, a Sapa correspondent reported.
“The reason I am giving you this sentence is because you pleaded guilty without wasting the court's time. I know that what she did something wrong but you were supposed to control your anger.
“I will give you five factors to become a better husband and father. These factors are communication, respect, trust, friends for life and love,” Khoza said.
Ngomane admitted assaulting his wife, Pretty Madonsela, 25, who is the mother of their two daughters.
He said he heard her answering a call from another man.
“I heard her saying to the man over the phone that he must drop the call and that she will send him a 'please call me' because I was home,” said Ngomane.
He said when he asked her who was phoning she confessed it was a man. This led to an argument and the assault.
“I then punched her in her face because I was very angry. Your Worship, please forgive me, I know that what I did was wrong and I won't do it again. Please release me to go and work for my kids and wife as they are everything to me,” he said, crying.
Sapa