Although it has been seven months since Lethiwe Ndlovu was attacked by a co-worker at a local beauty salon, the emotional and physical scars are still fresh. She was assaulted and had boiling water thrown at her on the morning of May 13. It was a usual morning, getting to work in time and getting ready for the day, but what Lethiwe didn’t know was that danger was waiting on the other side of the door.
Her colleague, Ellouise Carter (43), and a 20-year-old accomplice had hatched a devious and cruel plan and were waiting for Lethiwe. When she opened the door, Carter pepper-sprayed her while the accomplice rushed out with a jug of boiling water, which was thrown onto Lethiwe. Crying out in pain and bewilderment, Lethiwe tried to flee from the pair, but she was assaulted with a stick while doing so.
This violent incident was captured on closed circuit television and led to the arrest of Carter.
“Her accomplice fled from the Estcourt area and was arrested a week a later in Newcastle by the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Mahadow,” explained police spokesperson Warrant Officer Basheer Khan.
The case was placed on the roll at the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court and the charge was changed from assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm to attempted murder.
“After several remands, the case was finalised recently. Accused two (accomplice) was acquitted of the charge. Although some members of the community displayed a lack of confidence in the investigating officer, he persevered during the investigation and made sure that he seized the necessary evidence to secure a conviction. Carter will spend the next five years in prison,” added Khan
.
The five-year prison sentence comes as a relief for Lethiwe.
“I am happy that she has been sentenced. The trial took a few months; I thought they had forgotten about all this and I would never get justice, but with God, I did. I was hurt seeing her because she didn’t care and lived her life like she did nothing. She almost killed me. A person like her needs to be far away from people; she needs to learn a lesson that you can’t do this to people, never!” she related.
Lethiwe is perplexed about the reason behind Carter attempting to hurt her.
“There was never an incident when we had a fight or any disagreement at work. We were close and worked together nicely up until that day, I don’t know what went wrong. I still live in fear most of the time because every time I have to open the door at work, it’s like she is there, behind the door, waiting to attack me again,” she said.
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While the emotional pain endures, the physical scars are ever-present to remind Lethiwe of that terrifying day.
“I was left with scars on my head, face and one ear. I can’t hear nicely anymore and had to see a doctor twice or three times a week. I couldn’t sleep for two months because of my injuries. I would sleep while sitting and lived on painkillers. She should have just killed me then; the pain I was in and still am in now is terrible. My face is still bad. How will I live with wearing make-up for the rest of my life, how?” she asks.
Lethiwe relies on the support of her family and friends to get through each day, and hopes to someday put this ordeal behind her.
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