Jaw broken in ‘buy beer’ brawl

Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
TWO men from Madlambuzi allegedly broke a fellow villager’s jaw and stole R400 from him after he refused to buy them beer at a local business centre.

Polite Ngwenya (22) and Meluleki Ncube (24) allegedly threatened to deal with Mr Andrew Qhubekani Ncube when he declined to buy them beer.

A court heard they waylaid and attacked him leaving him for dead in September last year.

Bulawayo magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere issued a warrant for Ncube’s arrest after he failed to appear in court while Ngwenya was not asked to plead to attempted murder.

Mr Mberewere remanded Ngwenya in custody to today for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa alleged that the duo met Mr Ncube at Masendu business centre on September 11 and demanded beer.

“Mr Ncube refused and Ngwenya said he knew Mr Ncube had money. He threatened to deal with him later. The duo followed him as he was going home and Ngwenya hit Mr Ncube on the jaw with a stone, breaking it,” Mr Manyiwa said.

“Ngwenya and Ncube punched and kicked Mr Ncube all over the body. They stole his red tennis shoes and R400.

“They fled from the scene leaving him bleeding and unconscious. Mr Ncube gained consciousness after some time and managed to walk to his homestead.” — @MondelaC.