Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku Court Reporter
A SOUTH African national who allegedly kidnapped a female passenger and drove while she was clinging to car door trying to escape, leading to leg fracture, has appeared in court.
Simon Steve Mg’ambo (46), a South African national from Johannesburg and employed as a truck driver at L.P.S Logistics Private Limited, appeared on Tuesday before Bulawayo regional magistrate
Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla charged with kidnapping, attempted murder and failing to stop after an accident.
The matter was remanded to October 7.
Prosecuting, Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that on September 11 at around 4pm in the Gweru Central Business District, the complainant boarded a South African-registered international haulage truck, registration number HN94PR GP, which was being driven by the accused and was destined for Shangani Mine Turn-Off. There was a male passenger in the vehicle whose particulars were not captured.
The court heard that upon reaching Shangani Mine Turn-Off, the complainant asked the accused person to stop the vehicle so that she could disembark since she had arrived at her destination, but the accused refused.
“The accused person increased the speed. The complainant then requested the driver to stop and drop her at the next bus stop but the accused person refused to stop and told the complainant that he was going to drop her in Bulawayo,” the court heard.
The court heard that when the motor vehicle arrived in Bulawayo, the complainant requested to be dropped anywhere in the Central Business District and the accused person refused to stop and let the complainant disembark, and continued driving due west along J.M Nkomo Street.
After realising that the accused person was refusing to stop his vehicle and that the motor vehicle was now leaving the Central Business District towards Plumtree, she managed to open the passenger door, which was locked and clung onto the door, which was now open whilst the vehicle was moving.
“When the accused person realised that the complainant was clinging to the open door, he did not stop the vehicle. The complainant later fell down from the moving vehicle and was run over on both legs by the vehicle’s wheels and got injured,” the court heard.
The complainant sustained fractures on both legs and was referred to hospital for treatment where her left leg was eventually amputated at the knee. A medical report will be produced in court as evidence.
