adminNoleen Makhurane Court Reporter
TWO Bulawayo men — one of them a former security guard at the Bulawayo City Council — suspected to be behind a wave of break-ins and theft at city schools, yesterday appeared in court.
At least six schools were burgled by thieves who blew up safes at some of the institutions in a five-week robbery spree between August and September this year.
Shilomu Ndlovu, 39, and Busani Khumalo, 35, appeared before magistrate Sibongile Msipha Marondedze facing five counts of robbery, theft and unlawful entry.
However, the duo was linked to theft from only two schools where they allegedly stole property worth more than $2,000.
The magistrate did not ask them to plead and remanded them in custody to November 2.
The court heard how Ndlovu, the former BCC security guard, got injured when he tried to escape by jumping out of a moving police vehicle following his arrest.
Msipha-Marondedze ordered Ndlovu to seek medical attention at Bulawayo Prison clinic.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on September 25, the trio with an accomplice, Madanisani Ndlovu, who is still at large, pounced on Nketa Primary School.
Mageza said the trio robbed John Zikhali, a city council security guard, of his Samsung cell phone worth $50 and $10 at knife point. They threatened to use the knife and metal bars on him if he raised alarm.
The court also heard how Khumalo, Ndlovu and Madanisani on September 28, returned to Nketa primary school and stole property worth $1,305.
The trio allegedly continued their robbing spree as they on October 18, robbed Josiah Chinamano Primary School of property worth $1,600 after gaining entry through a window at the administration block.
The trio, the court heard, sold the cell phone they took from Zikhali to Sikhokhele Khumalo who led police to Ndlovu and Khumalo.
Mageza said the police arrested the pair on October 21.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter