Times Of Swaziland: WIDOW CAUGHT WITH LOVER AT MARITAL HOMESTEAD WIDOW CAUGHT WITH LOVER AT MARITAL HOMESTEAD ================================================================================ BY ZWELAKHE MOAHLOLI on 06/01/2018 14:47:00 MOTSHANE – When the cat is away, the mice come out to play. This was the scenario at a Shongwe homestead where a woman was found with her lover inside her marital house by her in-laws, yesterday. An unexpected visit by *Lenhle’s sister in-law in the morning opened the can of worms. The sister-in-law is said to have noted that Lenhle had a male visitor inside the house and immediately called other family members to the homestead situated at White City, Motshane. Lenhle has been widowed for the past six years as her husband passed on in 2011. The traditional mourning period for widows in the country is two years in which women are expected to be confined and not work. She, however, continued to reside with her in-laws. The Shongwe family could not believe their eyes when they found *Bongani relaxed inside the house. The love-birds were assaulted with fists and also kicked by the more than 10 people, who included family members and neighbours. When journalists arrived at the homestead, Lenhle was found packing her belongings while Bongani sat quietly outside. Family and neighbours waited outside on the lawn for her to finish packing before loading the moveable property on to a truck. In separate interviews, Lenhle and Bongani both confirmed that they were in a love relationship. Lenhle, who had bruises on her face, stated that she had tried on numerous occasions to introduce her lover to the family but instead they allegedly asked if she would bear a child as her husband had passed on. “I’m also a human being and I have feelings. The family never provided me with umngeni. However, my father in-law gave me a go-ahead to find someone to love,” she said to giggles of some women who were following the interview. A family member, Sihlenge Shongwe, confirmed that the couple was found inside the house. “They were found by my wife. She had come to ask Lenhle to accompany other family members to check on our ailing father. She was shocked to find a man in my brother’s house,” he said. The visibly angry Sihlenge pointed out that this was not the first time they had allegedly caught Lenhle with a man inside the house. After the first incident, he said she was strongly warned to refrain from bringing men to her marital home. He went to state that his sister in-law was also told that she could visit her male friends but not to bring them over to the Shongwe compound. On the latest incident, he said they had no alternative but to take her back to her parents at Hawane. According to Swazi Law and Custom, when a wife is found to have committed adultery, she is sent back to her parental home where she is expected to be cautioned. Asked if they had assaulted the couple, Sihlenge said they had no option but to take the matter into their own hands. The area’s Umgijimi, Christopher Dlamini, also confirmed that they were called by the Shongwe family to come witness the drama. “To my knowledge, the family once reported her affair at the royal kraal. She was in the company of her mother,” he alleged. No decision has been taken by the traditional authorities relating to the allegations against the widow. He explained that the Shongwe family was expected to make its own decisions on the matter. Speaking as a traditionalist, Dlamini said the Shongwe family had the right to send her back to her parents. She was assisted by the Shongwe family to load her belonging on to a truck. Not their real names