adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
AN ex-convict from Bulilima will spend the next eight months in prison after he stole two dogs belonging to his neighbour in a bid to raise money to fend for his family.Polite Ndlovu, 29, of Sikhathini area ran out of luck after his customer revealed the matter to the owner, Malvin Moyo.
Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa heard that Ndlovu stole the dogs while Moyo was away and proceeded to Watershed area where he sold one dog for R60 and kept the other for a prospective buyer.
Ndlovu was previously sentenced to eight months for unlawful entry and theft by the same magistrate.
In passing his sentence, Ruvetsa said he would bring into effect two months which he had suspended from Ndlovu’s previous sentence in 2013.
“For the current charge I’m giving you a sentence of six months imprisonment. In addition to that I’ll bring into effect two months which were suspended previously which brings your sentence to an effective eight months,” said Ruvetsa.
In mitigation, Ndlovu told the court that he stole the dogs in a bid to raise money to fend for his family. He said he was struggling to make ends meet.
Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Ndlovu stole the two dogs on April 24 around 6AM.
He said Ndlovu proceeded to Watershed area where he sold one dog for R60.
Mazorodze said Ndlovu was paid $1 and made an arrangement to collect the balance on a later date.
He said his customer informed the complainant of the offence.
“When Ndlovu came to collect his balance from the man, he was arrested after police received a tip off that he was selling a stolen dog,” he said.
Mazorodze said the two dogs had a combined value of $100.
In another incident, a 26-year-old Mangwe woman appeared before the same magistrate after stealing 17 chickens from her employer’s farm.
Skhululekile Nyathi who works at Mali Farm as a farm worker was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Three months of her sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining three months were suspended on condition that she performs 105 hours of community service at Mali Primary School.
Mazorodze said Alois Ncube went to Bulawayo on April 14, leaving Nyathi at the farm.
He said the woman took advantage of Ncube’s absence and stole 17 chickens from the fowl run.
“Ncube returned on April 18 and discovered that some chickens were missing. He reported the matter to the police who investigated the matter resulting in the immediate arrest of Nyathi,” he said.
Mazorodze said the value of the stolen chicken was $119 and only $36 was recovered.
Online Reporter