Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
FOUR notorious armed robbery suspects have been convicted and sentenced, with two receiving effective 20-year prison terms for their involvement in two robbery incidents, while the other two were each sentenced to an effective 10 years’ imprisonment for a single count.
Fonet Maranganya (27) and Malvin Maranganya (19), both of Mwenezi, together with Prince Sibanda (22) and Tatenda Ndlovu (23) of Mberengwa, were convicted on their own plea of guilty to armed robbery by Gwanda regional magistrate, Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele.
Fonet and Malvin were each sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment on two counts of armed robbery, with four years suspended on condition that they do not commit a similar offence within the next five years. Sibanda and Ndlovu were each sentenced to 12 years in prison for one count, with two years suspended under the same conditions.
Prosecuting, Ms Zanele Sithole told the court that on April 1, 2026, the four accused went to Ben Shire Mine Bar 20 in Gwanda, where they robbed Mr Learnmore Magodhi, the mine owner, of R15 000.
“On 1 April 2026 at around 7PM, the accused persons hatched a plan to rob the complainant of his money.
“They went to Ben Shire Mine while armed with a pistol. Upon arrival, the accused persons lied to the complainant pretending as if they wanted to sell gold and the complainant welcomed them into his cabin.
“Accused number one, three and four entered the cabin whilst accused number two remained at the door on guard.
“The accused persons then handed over gold to the complainant for weighing. After weighing the gold, the complainant started counting money intending to cash the accused persons. During the process, accused person number one grabbed the money from the complainant’s hands, produced a pistol and fired two shots towards the complainant,” said Ms Sithole.
The court heard that the complainant reacted swiftly, confronting the first accused and engaging him in a struggle. He managed to overpower him, disarm him of the pistol and force the group to retreat. The accused persons then fled from the scene with R15 000 in cash.
Ms Sithole said in a separate incident, Fonet and Malvin, armed with a pistol, targeted Ms Mongiwa Ndlovu at a makeshift restaurant before attacking another victim shortly afterwards.
“On 29 March 2026, at around 8PM, the accused persons invaded the complainant’s makeshift restaurant at Mbembesi Business Centre while armed with a silver pistol. Accused number one produced a silver pistol, which he pointed to the complainant Ms Mongiwa Ndlovu, grabbed her by the T-shirt and took a black purse, which contained cash R 760 from her.
“The accused persons ordered the complainant to sit down and they left the restaurant with complainant’s black purse, which contained the money. After robbing Ms Ndlovu the accused persons proceeded to Beitbridge-Gwanda Highway, West Nicholson bus stop where accused one produced a pistol, which he pointed to Ms Sikhanyisiwe Ndlovu and took a black purse, which had R 2000 and US$100,” she said.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to investigations that culminated in the arrest of the four accused persons
.–@DubeMatutu
How can a convicted robber found guilty by way of his own admission be referred to as a suspect? Come on let’s be serious. Go back to school if you don’t understand English.