adminSukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE magistrate has ordered a cross border transporter (umalayitsha) not to go to a shop owned by his neighbour following accusations that he was continuously collecting groceries from his shopkeeper without paying for them.
Joseph Sibanda, who runs Nkalakatha Store in Empandeni area, told a court that Finders Mpofu was constantly collecting grocery items for free from his ex-wife who works at his shop.
He was granted a protection order barring Mpofu from entering or buying from his shop located at Sindisa Business Centre in Empandeni.
Sibanda told the court that Mpofu, who is an umalayitsha, was constantly visiting his shop and persuading his ex-wife, Petronella Ncube, to supply him with free groceries.
“I’m running at a loss because of this man, Your Worship. His ex-wife works for me as a shopkeeper and he is in the habit of visiting the shop in my absence and begs her to give him groceries for free,” said Sibanda.
“He comes claiming that he doesn’t have any money or food to eat and gets groceries from my employee. I confronted my shopkeeper and she confessed that she was constantly handing over groceries to her ex-husband but she also pointed out that she always did this under protest.’’
In his application for a protection order, Sibanda had asked the court to prohibit Mpofu from getting close to his shop or visiting the business centre where his shop is located.
Mpofu, who denied receiving groceries for free from his ex-wife, said he only visited Ncube to discuss the welfare of their three children. He said Sibanda was making false allegations against him as he was having an affair with his ex-wife.
Mpofu said the businessman wanted to stop him from interacting with Ncube.
“I’ve never collected any groceries from my ex-wife for free Your Worship. In fact, whenever I pass through Nkalakatha Store it would be for the purposes of giving her money for the upkeep of our three children or we would be discussing the welfare of our children,” he said.
“I’m reliably informed that Sibanda is having an affair with my ex-wife and I guess he is not pleased at all each time he sees me interacting with her.
That is probably why he wants to get me out of the way.”
Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon, ordered Mpofu to stay away from Sibanda’s shop but said he was free to go to the shopping centre.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter