A man in Inyathi has appeared in court facing charges of stealing explosives from Casmyn Mine.
Report by Khulani Nkabinde
Washington Ndlovu (31) of Garikai, Inyathi, was, however, lucky to escape jail after Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove sentenced him to perform 105 hours of community service at Inyathi Police Station.
Ndlovu was sentenced to a three-month jail term, wholly suspended for community service.
Mushove ruled that Ndlovu had pleaded guilty to the offence and had not wasted the court’s time. He was also a first-time offender.
The magistrate said Ndlovu had also been punished since he had already been dismissed from Casmyn Mine, where he was a general worker, over the alleged theft. Prosecutor Shepherd Nhamburo told the court that Ndlovu stole the explosives sometime early this month.
“On 21 June, detectives from the Minerals Unit in Bulawayo received information to the effect that the accused had allegedly stolen 17 rolls of power cord, 39 emulates and 31 fuses from Casmyn Mine,” he said.
“Reacting to the information, the detectives travelled to Inyathi’s, Mahamba business centre.
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“While there, they phoned the accused and posed as prospective buyers of the explosives.”
After being convinced that the detectives were genuine buyers, Nhamburo said Ndlovu then brought to the business centre 14 emulates and 17 fuses, which were in a sack.
The detectives then identified themselves and arrested him. Nhamburo said the detectives then searched the accused’s home and found 17 rolls of power cord, 25 emulates and 14 fuses.
The stolen items were brought to court as exhibit.
