The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
A BULAWAYO businessman lost $10 000, R15 000 and a pistol when robbers broke into his house in Selborne Park and attacked him with knives, iron bars and an axe.
The robbers broke into Mr Pride Nkomo’s house who owns Triple Based Investments in Bulawayo and also stole two cellphones, a CCTV unit and clothes.
This emerged when a man from Pumula appeared in court facing charges of robbery yesterday.
Nqobile Dube (39) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Ratidzo Ringisayi to answer to charges of robbery as defined in section 126 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) act chapter 9:23
He was remanded in custody to 21 August for trial.
Prosecutor, Mr Dumisani Ndlovu told the court that on 6 July at about 2am, Dube in the company of an unknown number of assailants, armed with knives, iron bars and axes broke into Mr Nkomo’s house, where they tied him up and demanded his firearm, as well as cash.
According to court records, Dube and his accomplices demanded to be shown the safe, as well as the keys.
It was stated that Mr Nkomo told them that he had left the keys at the shop and that is when they assaulted him, resulting in him sustaining deep cuts on the head and ear.
The robbers then stole the safe, which contained the said money and a Tokarev pistol with a loaded magazine, as well as 17 loose rounds.
Dube was arrested in Magwegwe on 22 July, while trying to break into another house. The pistol was recovered from him on the day in question.
Only $1 000 was recovered from him.
Meanwhile, a suspected car thief yesterday stunned the court, after he told the magistrate that he was young and fit enough to “hustle” for money to engage the services of a lawyer.
A somewhat arrogant Lesley Ndebele (24) made the remarks before he was ordered to stand down by Ms Ringisayi, when he initially appeared in court facing a charge of car theft as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.
He was remanded in custody to 15 August this year.
Ndebele is accused of stealing a Toyota Wish in Pumula South on 10 August under unclear circumstances.
In his plea Ndebele said he was assaulted by members of the public who had meted instant justice, after they tracked him down.
He said he was wounded on his right hand but since he was young he could weather the pain. Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo prosecuted.
@peterkmatika
