The Sunday News
Simba Jemwa, Sunday News Correspondent
MOST 20-year-olds steal girls from their peers, but Brighton Nyathi is not most 20-year-olds, he is a serial car thief whose claim to fame is stealing a shocking TEN cars in 83 days.
He stole them all: from a Mercedes Benz Sprinter to a Nissan NP200 to a Honda Fit and even a Ford Ranger.
He and his two accomplices, Brian Mpofu and Trust Zondo (both still at large) were prolific during their reign of terror.
Their basic modus operandi was to attack drivers either parked in secluded areas or relieving themselves.
They were often armed with an axe and an Okapi knife.
All the vehicles stolen were dumped after valuables had been removed from them.
His rap sheet is a fine read for any and every one with a thing for crime fiction, but this is not fiction.
Count One: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 3 August
Where: bushy area along Ntemba Road in Pumula South
Circumstances: Nyathi jacked Thabiso Ngwenya of his Toyota Hiace registration AFD 6533. After dispossessing Ngwenya of his vehicle, Nyathi forcibly took his Samsung A65, a Nokia cellphone and US$300.
Ngwenya was “chilling” in his car with his girlfriend, Nosimilo Ndlovu when Nyathi and his two accomplices, Trust Zondo and Brian Mpofu pounced.
Count Two: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 1 September
Where: unnamed road near United College of Education
Circumstances: Nyathi found the complainant, Vusumuzi Nkiwane parked along a road in a secluded area in his Ford Ranger registration AEC 6541. Along with the car, Nyathi stole a Samsung J7, Nokia cellphone, US$250 and ZAR200.
Count Three: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 24 September
Where: Ntemba Road near Seventh Day Adventist Church in Magwegwe West
Circumstances: The brazen car thief hit his third victim when he jacked his namesake, police officer Brighton Chadonha robbing him of his Honda Fit registration ADU 1796, an iTel A16 mobile phone and his police identity card.
Count Four: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 24 September
Where: Ntemba Road roundabout in Pumula East
Circumstances: Nyathi grabbed Shephard Bhala’s white Nissan NP200 registration AAE 8811.
Count Five: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 30 September
Where: Opposite AFM Church in Richmond
Circumstances: The now very brazen Nyathi relieved Tinashe Chivi of his silver Toyota Caravan registration ADC 6091.
The “industrious” Nyathi also stole two cellphones, US$325, ZWL3 000 worth of Econet airtime cards and ZWL1 000 worth of Telecel airtime cards.
Count Six: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 5 October
Where: Bushy area near Membar Foods in Kelvin
Circumstances: George Chapanyama lost his blue Honda Fit registration ADP 1276, a tools box with spanners, two cellphones, one handbag, sunglasses and his national identification card.
Count Seven: “Robbery” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 5 October
Where: Unnamed road near Luveve Cemetery in Gwabalanda
Circumstances: Now a certified hoodlum, Nyathi accosted Immaculate Moyo and relieved her of two cellphones, ZAR1 000, three puer perfumes, one floral dress and a water bottle.
Count Eight: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 13 October
Where: Along Masiyephambili Road opposite Flexi Clinic in New Lobengula
Circumstances: Ndodana Moyo fell afoul of Nyathi losing his Toyota Dyna registration AER 1948
Count Nine: “Robbery” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 13 October
Where: Near Ashy’s Supermarket in Pumula South
Circumstances: Maxwell Muhlwa was mugged and lost two cellphones, US$140 and ZAR800
Count Ten: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 20 October
Where: Along Ntemba Road opposite MaNdlovu Beer Hall in Pumula South
Circumstances: Jonathan Matenga was relieved of his white Mazda Axella and two Samsung S20 mobile phones.
Count Eleven: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 25 October
Where: Dumezweni intersection in Pumula South
Circumstances: Nyathi dispossessed Kelvin Sibanda of his red Honda Fit registration ADU 1165, two cellphones and US$40.
Count Twelve: “Robbery – Car Jacking” as defined in Section 126 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23
Date: 25 October
Where: Bushy area near Cowdray Park
Circumstances: 41-year-old Shephard Juta of 443 Phekela Townhip, Filabusi was disposed of his Mercedes Benz Sprinter registration ACX 3947, by the alleged 20-year-old car jacker. He also lost three cellphones, two gas tanks, US$340 and ZAR4000 to Nyathi. @RealSimbaJemwa
