Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
A 43-year-old Nkulumane man has been arrested for stock theft after an alert and brave member of the Bellevue neighbourhood led to his arrest, while his two accomplices escaped.
Bhekilizwe Nyathi (43) who was in the company of two others who are still at large was identified by a member of the neighbourhood watch who is also employed as a gardener in Bellevue (name withheld) who approached them after witnessing that their car was parked suspiciously.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday morning at Hillside police station, Bulawayo Police Provincial Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said on 26 August 2024 around 11am, the informant was at work when he noticed a Blue Mazda pickup van with a white canopy as it was parked outside the yard at his work place.
“The informant went closer to see why the car was parked so suspiciously. While talking to the driver, he noticed that the car’s loading box was full of cattle carcasses.
“The informant demanded to see documents which authorise transportation of meat. The other two accused in the car persuaded the informant to accept a bribe so as not to raise alarm but the informant refused,” said Ins Ncube.
He said in an effort to escape, the informant held the steering wheel of the car before the driver pulled out an axe, hit the informant once on the mouth with the back of the axe and the informant released the steering wheel.
However, Ins Ncube said the informant jumped on to the loading box of the van and held on to the canopy.
“The accused persons drove away while the informant was holding on to the canopy, shouting for assistance. Members of the public heard the informant and came to assist in their numbers.
The accused persons were followed until the driver stopped the car in Nkulumane 12 near Phekhiwe River. They got off and started to run into the bush. Members of the public assisted the informant to apprehend one of the accused who was driving the vehicle and brought him to Nkulumane Police station,” said Insp Ncube.
The other two accused persons managed to escape. Upon Nyathi’s arrest, it was observed that there were five cattle carcasses in the loading box of accused persons’ van.
“They were all branded ME1 which is the area brand for Hopefoutain. One brown beast with short horns, one brown and white beast with long horns, one black beast with white head and both horns facing downwards
“One black beast with white head, white legs and long horns and one brindle beast with long horns were recovered,” said Insp Ncube.
The total value stolen is not known and US$2250 was recovered.
Meanwhile, one Mr Zenzo Luphahla (61) of Hopefountain identified the cattle as his on Tuesday morning and expressed his gratitude to the member of the nighbourhood watch who effected the arrest, the police and Nkulumane residents. He confirmed that his cattle went missing on Sunday night.
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