Online Reporter
Fortune Makoni Court Reporter
A Bulawayo man has been fined US$200 after he was convicted of assaulting a security guard with a knobkerrie at Durban Mine in Bubi District.
Thabani Ncube, who resides at 5035 Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo, was convicted of assault as defined in Section 89(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].
The court heard that Ncube assaulted 31-year-old Shepherd Zaru, a security guard employed by Ming Chang Sino Africa, after Zaru had refused him and a group of men entry into the mine premises.
According to the State outline, Zaru was at work with Brighton Sibanda when a group of six men approached them and indicated that they wanted to enter the mine to work.
Zaru refused them entry and the group left. About 10 minutes later, Zaru and Sibanda were patrolling the premises when they went to a section of the fence where a man was selling chickens.
After purchasing the chickens, the group approached the two security guards.
The court heard that Ncube allegedly said the security guards were the ones who had denied them entry and should be assaulted.
The group, which was armed with knobkerries, then threw the weapons at the guards, hitting Zaru once on his right hand. They also threw stones at the two men, forcing them to flee.
Zaru sustained a bad injury to his right wrist but did not seek medical treatment.
Ncube was sentenced to pay a US$200 fine or serve five months in prison.
He was also sentenced to a further five months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence involving violence against another person during the suspension period for which, upon conviction, he will be sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine.
