adminThubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
TWO Bulawayo kombi drivers appeared in court yesterday for allegedly blocking a commuter omnibus crew from ferrying passengers in Emganwini during an anti-police protest.
Police in anti-riot gear were deployed on Monday after commuter crews plying the Nketa, Emganwini and Nkulumane routes went on strike protesting alleged police harassment.
They accused the police of setting up too many roadblocks and demanding bribes to let them pass through each checkpoint.
Yesterday Jabulani Moyo, 27, of Nketa 9 and Walter Murungweni, 23, of Emganwini appeared in court for bashing a kombi driver and conductor who refused to join the strike action.
Moyo and Murungweni allegedly assaulted the kombi driver Mandlenkosi Mpofu and his conductor, Xolani Ncube before ordering all passengers who were in their vehicle to disembark.
Other demonstrators joined in assaulting the pair, the court heard
Moyo and Murungweni were not asked to plead when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa facing a charge of public violence.
Moyo was remanded out of custody to March, 17, while Murungweni was remanded in custody after magistrate Muchemwa discovered that he had given the court a wrong residential address.
Prosecuting, Munyonga Kuvarega said the duo also stole a phone and money from their victims.
“During the assault two kombi seats broke and Murungweni stole $30, a Samsung Galaxy Duo cellphone valued at $130 from the driver’s glove compartment,” said Kuvarega.
He said Mpofu and Ncube were dragged out of the vehicle by the demonstrators.
During the scuffle, Mpofu managed to regain possession of the vehicle and drove off with Ncube.
After the pair realised that their money and cellphone had been stolen, Mpofu drove back, but they were brutally assaulted by Moyo, Murungweni and other demonstrators.
The total amount stolen was $190 and nothing was recovered.
Online Reporter