Two Limpopo women who sustained serious injuries on the eve of the 16 days of activism against women and children abuse now have no food on the table, after their husband was jailed for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Augusto Shivambu (32), was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment in the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday, following his conviction. He savagely assaulted his two wives with a sjambok after a pair of sandals went missing.

One of the wives, Nancy (25), who sustained serious injuries al over her body during the beating, had nevertheless played down the incident. She told Magistrate Norman Maluleke that the beating took one minute. Later she told Limpopo Mirror she talked of one minute because she wanted her husband released.

“I feel he should have received a warning. It was a mistake and he did not usually beat us,” she said.

Yesterday, Limpopo Mirror visited the other wife, who had not been to court as she had run away. Elizabeth (28), the mother of five, said she ran away during the beating but could not escape the sjambok marks on her face. “I went to my relatives in Venda and only came back when I heard he had been sentenced,” said Elizabeth. "We are both unemployed and there is no food for the seven children,” she added.

She said neither of them had an ID as they were from Mozambique, although they had been here for the last eight years. Three of the children were receiving grants, she said, and their father was the one who had been receiving those on their behalf.

“Our husband had been here for the last 20 years and that is why he has been given permanent residence in South Africa. He also did odd jobs to support the children, but with him gone to jail, we are starving,” she said.

She said the beating took place when Shivambu found his pair of sandals missing in one of the huts which did not have a lock. “He took offence and he said we should know as we are the people who are supposed to know everything at home,” she said.

At the time of the visit, neighbours had given them some food. “I felt pity for the children and I gave them some food and if my husband knows, he may be cross with me,” said a neighbour, who refused to be named.