Unlicensed kombi driver dupes cops

Nokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO kombi driver who caused an accident that claimed three lives allegedly gave police a false name to conceal that he was driving without a licence. Trevor Mpofu, 24, allegedly told police officers that his name was Michael Ndlovu. Mpofu had allegedly called the real Michael Ndlovu soon after theaccident last month and asked for his identification particulars.

He duped Ndlovu into believing he had found a job for him and went on to supply the details to police, claiming he was Ndlovu.

The truth came to light when Ndlovu, 24, got wind of information that he had killed people in an accident.

Ndlovu informed the police that he had been framed.

Mpofu appeared in court yesterday facing charges of culpable homicide, supplying false information to a public officer and driving without a driver’s licence.

Mpofu was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Temba Chimiso.

He was remanded in custody to 14 May.

Prosecuting Kenneth Shava told the court that on April 16, at around 5PM, Mpofu was driving along Amunyama road in Lobengula West with 14 passengers aboard his kombi.

“When he reached Amunyama road and Jukwa intersection, Mpofu went through the intersection and failed to give way to traffic along Jukwa road. As a result he got involved in an accident and three people who were in the kombi died,” said Shava.

He said even as ambulances arrived at the scene, Mpofu hatched a plan to hide the fact that he didn’t have a driver’s licence.

He called Ndlovu.

“When he got the details from Ndlovu, Mpofu called Traffic West and informed them about the accident claiming to be Ndlovu,” said Shava.

He said when he was asked to produce a driver’s licence, he failed.

The court heard that on Sunday, the actual Ndlovu told the police that he was the one who had ignorantly supplied his personal details to Mpofu thinking that he had secured him a job.