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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
AN 81-year-old granny from Dombodema in Bulilima District fought off her amorous 22-year-old neighbour who crept into her blankets and tried to rape her while professing undying love for her.

The woman told Chronicle that she was forced to spend the night hiding at a cemetery after overpowering a drunken Thulani Dube and fleeing from her bedroom hut.

Dube had already ejaculated on her thighs.

He allegedly hunted for her while calling out her name and insisting he loved her.

Although the attack happened in February, Dube allegedly fled to a neighbouring village where he has been holed up until his arrest recently.

He is scheduled to appear in court today to answer to a charge of indecent assault.

The elderly woman said: “The little boy kept saying he was sexually attracted to me. He sneaked into my bedroom hut at around 10PM and I suddenly felt a heavy weight on top of me. I woke up to discover that it was Dube who was half naked.”

She said she was sleeping in the hut with her disabled granddaughter when Dube struck.

“He was pressing me down against the bed and he kept telling me that he had a desire to sleep with me as he was sexually attracted to me. He said he had been craving to make love to me for a long time.

“My granddaughter could not do anything to help me or even alert our neighbours because she is crippled and can’t move without assistance,” said the old woman.

She said she could hardly move and Dube kept trying to undress her.

The old woman said she tried to scream but her attacker covered her mouth with his hand.

She said she realised that Dube was drunk and she dashed for freedom when he tried to position himself to rape her. The woman said she went to hide at her family’s cemetery for the rest of the night and alerted her neighbours in the morning.

“The young boy moved away from me and I realised that he was drunk because he kept staggering. At that time he had messed my thighs and I realised that could have been the reason why he withdrew.

“I quickly moved out of the bedroom and headed for our family cemetery. It was dark outside and he failed to locate me. He kept calling out for me to return to him but I remained at the cemetery until the following morning,” said the old woman.

She said she alerted her neighbours and together they proceeded to her bedroom hut where they found that Dube was gone but he had not harmed her granddaughter.

She said she alerted the police who proceeded to Dube’s homestead but discovered that he had fled during the night.

After his arrest Dube is reported to have apologised to the old woman saying he was under the influence of alcohol.

Prosecutors said Dube had been advised of his court date by way of summons.