Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
PUMULA South residents are living in fear as a wave of burglaries has rocked the suburb over the past two weeks, with thugs smashing their way into homes in the dead of night.
From broken bedroom windows to frightening screams outside bathrooms, the community has been left shaken and sleepless.
Victims say the burglars are destroying everything in their path.
One resident was too shaken up to comment. She lost almost all her property during the wave. The burglars on the loose have been ravaging residents.
In one terrifying incident, the burglars attempted a break-in at Professor Moyo’s home on 10 June 2025, around 1AM, in Pumula South Section B.
In an interview, Moyo said:
“There were only two footprints at the crime scene.”
The burglars had tried entering the house through the bedroom window, which they broke.
He said they failed to break in and fled.
On 11 July 2025, at around 12:25AM, unknown burglars attempted to break into Joyce Lunga’s home. Lunga said the suspects were daring and appeared unfazed after they realised she was awake.
“They tried getting in the house by breaking the bathroom window.”
With the attempt failing, the intruder screamed to scare her but again, fled when the attempt was foiled.
“I was in shock,” said Lunga. “After it happened I didn’t sleep. I was afraid they were going to come back again.”
Another victim, Queen Sibanda, said the way the burglars moved showed they had no fear.
“They hit my door so violently. Scared to death, I woke my grandson. Fortunately, they had already run away.”
Councillor Lazarus Mphandwe of Ward 19 blamed the spike in break-ins on drugs and unemployment.
“If the community unites and forms neighbourhood committees, the problem can be solved.”
