Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Writer
TWO armed South African nationals and a Zimbabwean, who is on the run, appeared in court on Wednesday for allegedly pouncing on a local fuel service station and robbing it of US$4 405 and R1 350 at gunpoint.
Njabulo Wisdom Nyoni (30), of Belleview in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Chrisvision Ncube, also known as Mangena, of Ellands Park suburb in Johannesburg, South Africa, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Archie Wochiwunga, facing an armed robbery charge.
The pair was due in court for trial, but their lawyer, Mr Shepherd Chingarande, applied for a postponement, stating that he had just been engaged and needed time to prepare a defence. The court granted the postponement and Nyoni and his co-accused were remanded in custody to today for commencement of trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Sehliselo Khumalo told the court that on 4 October this year, Nyoni, Ncube and their accomplice, only identified as Mduduzi, who is at large, raided Redan fuel service station, situated at the corner of Plumtree Road and Gladstone Road in Bellevue, Bulawayo.
“Nyoni and his accomplices were travelling in a Honda Fit. Upon arrival at the fuel service station, they disembarked from their car and confronted the supervisor, grabbing him by the neck while pointing a gun at his head and demanding money,” said Mr Khumalo.
“The supervisor threw the satchel containing the money on the ground. They ordered him to lie on the ground and he complied. They took the satchel and stole US$4 405 and R1 350 while threatening to shoot him.”
The court heard that Nyoni and his co-accused swiftly got into their getaway car and sped off along Plumtree Road, heading towards the city centre.
The matter was reported to the police, and detectives from the Homicide Section carried out meticulous investigations leading to the arrest of Nyoni and Ncube. The detectives recovered a pistol, US$1 322 and R770. The recovered items were recorded in Form 390, which will be produced in court.
