Domestic worker steals from boss

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 53-YEAR-OLD domestic worker from Figtree has been sentenced to perform 105 hours of community service after being convicted of stealing $400 and property valued at $180 from her employer.

Getrude Sibanda, who had been employed as a housemaid by Pamela Rauch at Sedgemoor Farm for the past two years, stole the goods and attempted to send them to her family in Bulawayo.

The offence came to light after Rauch discovered that her property was missing and intercepted the goods before they reached Sibanda’s family.

Sibanda was convicted of theft charges by Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa.

She was sentenced to six months in prison. However, three months were suspended for five years on condition that she does not within that period commit an offence of the same nature.

The remaining three months were further suspended on condition that she performs 105 hours of community service at Hillside Primary School in Bulawayo.

Sibanda admitted that she sneaked into her employer’s bedroom during her absence and stole the money and goods which comprised clothing, cleaning detergents, blankets and lotion.

She then packed the goods into six boxes and gave them to a workmate to take to Bulawayo where her family was supposed to collect them.

Sibanda told the court that she stole in a bid to raise money to sustain her family.

Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said the domestic worker robbed her boss on July 5.

“At around 5PM Sibanda stole cash amounting to $400 from her employer’s house and some property. On the following morning she sent the stolen property through a farm driver from Sedgemoor Farm to deliver at Sedgemoor Depot in Bulawayo,” said Shawarira.

He said Rauch then discovered that some of her goods and money had been stolen and inquired from all her workers, including Sibanda. All the workers denied knowledge of the goods.

“Rauch then asked the driver whether he had not mistakenly delivered the property to their Bulawayo Branch and the driver revealed that Sibanda had given him some parcels to deliver.

“She phoned the manager at Sedgemoor depot who opened the boxes and confirmed that the description of the missing property matched the items which Sibanda had sent for her family. The manager sent the stolen items back to Rauch,” he said.

Shawarira said Rauch reported the matter to the police.

He said the value of stolen goods and the money was $580 and only the stolen property was recovered.