Shopkeeper escapes jail term

Precious Ncube (22), originally from Nkayi, was employed as a shopkeeper at Nkalange Line Store in Tsholotsho.
She stole R2 980 from the shop between September and October last year when she was left alone to run the business.
Ncube was convicted on her own plea of guilty to theft when she appeared before Tsholotsho resident magistrate Mr Toindepi Zhou on Tuesday.
She told the court that she stole the money because she and the owner of the shop, Mr Busani Sigola of Gwabalanda in Bulawayo, were lovers.
Ncube restituted Mr Sigola the full amount in court.
The magistrate sentenced her to 12 months in prison. She, however, escaped the agony of jail life after the magistrate suspended four months for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within that period.
The remaining eight months were suspended on condition that she performs 280 hours of community service at Dakamela Clinic in Nkayi District starting on Monday next week.
The State’s case as presented by Mr Fritz Madida was that on a date not known to the prosecutor but between September and October last year, Ncube was left in charge of the shop as her boss came to Bulawayo where he lives.
Ncube was responsible for the day-to-day running of the store.
Mr Sigola went back in October for stock-taking and discovered that about R2 980 was missing.
Ncube failed to account for the money and the matter was reported to the police leading to her arrest.