1) Mr Masinga appeared in the Durban Magistrates Court on 19 March 2009 on a charge of contravening section 17(a) read with section 7 of the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998. It is alleged that he assaulted his wife with a blunt axe, kicked and hit her with open hands and threatened to kill her. He also assaulted his daughter. The criminal proceedings were postponed to 14 April 2009 and then transferred to the Regional Magistrate's Court where he appeared on additional charges of attempted murder and two counts of assault.