adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
POLICE have launched a manhunt for unknown people who stole gold valued at $65,000 from a businessman in Brunapeg mining area in Mangwe District.The suspects entered Rothy Milling Centre, which belongs to Jabulani Dube, 46, through a hole in the perimeter fence.
They broke into his house and stole 1,8 kilogrammes of gold that was stashed under a bed in his bedroom.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Nkosilathi Mkhwananzi confirmed the incident which occurred on Tuesday night.
He said investigations were ongoing.
“I can confirm that there was an incident of theft of gold in Brunapeg area which is under Mphoengs Police Station although I’m yet to receive a detailed report,” said Sgt Mkhwananzi.
“Police in the area are still carrying out investigations but we’ve not made any arrests so far. It has not been ascertained whether this was a one man job or there were several people involved.”
A source in Mphoengs area said Dube, his mine manager, Gerald Ndlovu and five other mine workers processed gold from the stamp mill on Tuesday afternoon.
The police source said the gold was retrieved from 12 tonnes of gold ore which Dube and his workers had mined over a period of about two weeks.
“Dube’s mine manager, Ndlovu, is alleged to have taken the gold buttons that they had realised to his boss’ bedroom as per his instruction and he placed them beneath his bed for safe keeping and locked the door but the windows to the bedroom did not have burglar bars,” said the source.
“Dube and Ndlovu later left the mine premises for a nearby business centre and left behind the mine security guard and five mine workers.”
He said Dube returned around 9PM and discovered that one of the windows to his bedroom had been broken and all the gold was missing.
The source said police discovered that the culprit had cut a hole through the security fence in order to gain entry into the mine premises.
He said one set of shoe prints were spotted by the window up to the hole in the fence and they disappeared into a village which is about a kilometre from the mine.
The police source said efforts to track the shoe prints using police dogs were fruitless.
Dube, who lives in Hillside suburb in Bulawayo, said the theft was a huge setback for him and he was eager to see the culprits brought to book.
He said none of his stolen gold had been recovered so far.
Online Reporter