Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
THE human resources manager from Fairy Café, Ms Senzeni Masuku, has testified in the trial of two employees accused of manipulating computer data and stealing US$4 724.
She told the court that the company noticed the illicit activity in the computer system while the owner of the system credentials was absent from work.
Theophelous Moyo and Loke Dube appeared on Wednesday before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Tawurayi Manuwere facing charges of unlawful interference with data or a data storage medium as defined in Section 163(B) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), and unlawfully concealing a transaction from a principal as defined in Section 172(1)(a)(i)(ii) of the same Act.
The duo pleaded not guilty to both counts and represented themselves.
In their defence, Moyo and Dube told the court that the theft accusations arose after they complained of abuse at work.
“The theft charges were laid against Moyo and Dube after they had lodged a complaint of unfair dismissal at the National Employment Council and refused to sign resignation letters. Dube was appointed to be the assistant stock controller.
“The appointment was authorised by the human resources manager and other managers. After that, Moyo, acting in his own capacity as the shop manager, enrolled Dube on the GAAP system (the company’s computer system). His presence on the GAAP system was legitimate as management had approved it,” they told the court.
In her testimony, Ms Masuku discovered that there was activity in the system when accused one (Moyo) was off duty.
“Investigations revealed that accused two (Dube) had logged into the system. After further investigations, we found he was the one operating the system,” she said.
“Dube was never appointed to work in stock control because if a person is appointed, he or she is issued a contract, and the trainer is given a form to sign. I also introduced the re-assigned employee to everyone.”
IT manager Mr Sandile Ngwenya, during cross-examination, told the court that the computer system had been manipulated.
The matter was postponed to 13 May for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Veronica Munyuka told the court that from January 2025 to December 2025, Moyo and Dube unlawfully interfered with computer data software by altering Moyo’s credentials, who was employed as a manager, to reflect him as the owner of Fairy Café.
Moyo then accessed the right to delete important information, including stock records.
The court heard that Dube, who was employed as a security guard, manipulated the computer system using Moyo’s credentials.
Dube allegedly presented himself as a manager to access the system and deleted information related to stock. While in the system, the accused persons allegedly deleted and concealed transactions amounting to US$4 724.
