‘Hungry’ pupil, school drop-out break into shops

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A PUPIL at Plumtree High School has appeared in court for stealing foodstuffs valued at $109 from two shops in the border town.

The Form Three pupil and his accomplice, a 16-year-old Grade 7 dropout were convicted on their own plea of guilty to unlawful entry and theft charges by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.

They were each sentenced to a wholly suspended 12 months imprisonment.

Mr Ruvetsa said he had considered that the two were first offenders.

“In passing my sentence, I’ve considered that you are both juveniles and that you are first offenders and that you pleaded guilty to all counts. I also considered that part of the property you stole was recovered.

“However, the offence you committed is serious and therefore calls for a deterrent sentence. I therefore sentence each one of you to 12 months imprisonment which is wholly suspended for five years on condition that you do not within the period commit an offence of the same nature,” he said.

In mitigation, both said they were desperate for food.

Prosecuting, Ms Mavis Gwafa said the two broke into a tuckshop and a shop in Plumtree.

“During the period extending from 22 to 23 March between 6PM and 8AM, the boys went to a tuckshop belonging to Mrs Yekelani Ndlovu while it was locked.

“They used a shovel to force open a window before they stole five bottles of Shumba Maheu, 18 bottles of soft drinks and 15 packets of Lobels cream biscuits and they went away unnoticed,” she said.

Ms Gwafa said foodstuffs worth $29 were stolen.

She said on March 24 at around 11PM, the teenagers went to a General Dealer in Dingumuzi area which is operated by Mrs Sithokozile Maphosa.

She said they stole four pockets of potatoes, seven packets of mopane worms, 18 packets of sausages, two crates of eggs, six packs of chicken cuts, 13 bananas and three packets of fresh chips all worth $91.

Recently, three Plumtree High School Ordinary Level boarding pupils broke into two kiosks in the Plumtree CBD during a drinking spree and stole grocery items and a laptop.

The three boys, who are all below 16, sneaked out of the school at night and were caught in the act.

They were however, pardoned after the owners of the shops withdrew the charges against them.

@DubeMatutu.