admin
Danisa Masuku
A 39-YEAR-OLD man from Pumula East suburb in Bulawayo who allegedly uses muti to steal ran out of luck recently after he was caught in a house trying to steal and was beaten by residents who also drenched him in petrol in an attempt to burn him.
Lindani Msimanga reportedly entered a house in Pumula East intending to steal at around 2am on Wednesday last week.
Sadly, he ran out of luck when the owner of the house heard footsteps in the sitting room.
The victim screamed for help, alerting neighbourhood watch members who were patrolling in the suburb. The neighbours dashed to the house and caught him inside and took him to a police station.
Residents joined forces with neighbourhood watch members and apprehended Msimanga.
Drama ensued when the neighbourhood watch members were taking him to a police station. Some of the fuming residents punched him with fists while some hit him with open hands.
They also poured petrol on him to burn him but he was lucky to escape being burnt as the neighbourhood watch members quickly fended off a man who wanted to set him alight.
When he was asked how he stole Msimanga said he was given a padlock by his traditional healer.
“He told the angry crowd that was baying for his blood that he got muti from his traditional healer. He told them that his traditional healer gave him a padlock which was smeared with muti , when he enters the yard he locks the padlock and that will cause everyone in the surrounding area to fall into deep sleep after that he would enter the targeted house and steal without any disturbance,” said a neighbourhood watch member who requested anonymity.
Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident: “We would like to applaud members of the neighbourhood watch committee and residents who reacted swiftly after hearing the screams from a house owner where the suspect wanted to steal and joined forces to apprehend the suspect. Lastly we would like to discourage members of the public from taking the law into their hands but they should let the police do their work.”
Msimanga appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya last Wednesday and pleaded guilty to unlawful entry.
The magistrate remanded him in custody to 06 May for sentencing.
Online Reporter