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Gibson Mhaka
IN a seemingly embarrassing incident, a man from Tjingababili Village in Mphoengs in Matabeleland South Province was arrested for stealing from his mother in-law.
He was arrested following the discovery of matching shoe prints at the crime scene which led to his homestead. The man, Ephraim Ndlovu (35) appeared before Plumtree resident magistrate Joshua Nembaware facing charges of theft. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to either pay US$100 or serve one month in prison.
Additionally, two months of imprisonment were suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant the sum of R800 being the value of the stolen property by July 31 through the clerk of court.
The court heard that on 30 March 2024, at around 11pm the accused went to his mother-in-law, Cathrine Ncube’s homestead, and stole three rolls of fencing wire, five pots, one plastic bowl, four kilogrammes of sugar, five kilogrammes of beans and water glasses.
He took advantage of the complainant’s absence while she was attending a funeral at Ezimnyama area in Plumtree. The court further heard that the complainant left her grandson at home under the care of neighbours.
When the grandson discovered the theft the following morning, he alerted the neighbours, who then teamed up and followed the shoe prints leading to the accused’s homestead. The matter was reported to the police, which led to the arrest of the accused. Some of the stolen property was found hidden in the accused’s bedroom.
Online Reporter