Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
A GANG of five miners armed with whips and machetes allegedly assaulted and forced a 23-year-old man into the boot of a Toyota Probox during a mining dispute at Green Haven Shops in Umguza before the victim made daring escape into the bush.
It was mayhem and screams galore as the assailants rained terror on the victim and his two friends, mercilessly lashing them with sjamboks and hitting them with the machetes
Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu confirmed the arrest of Thabani Hadebe (27) of Mzilikazi in connection with the incident, which occurred on September 5 at around 3pm.
Hadebe was said to be acting together with Javis Ndlovu and Jabulani Khumalo, both of whom reside at a mine in Umguza, and two other unidentified men.
The group, sources told B-Metro, arrived at Green Haven Shops in two vehicles and parked near where the complainants were drinking beer.
The suspects approached one of the complainants and accused him of carrying out blasting activities that had encroached into their mining area.
The confrontation turned violent, with the suspects assaulting the 23-year-old man.
His two friends tried to intervene, but were allegedly overpowered, shamboked and assaulted with the side of a machete.
“The accused persons forced one of the complainants into the boot of their Toyota Probox, and the other two complainants managed to escape from the scene,” said Assistant Inspector Ndlovu.
The suspects drove to their mining area with the complainant locked inside the boot.
Upon arrival at the mine, the suspects parked the vehicle and went to their shaft.
The complainant took advantage of their absence to open the boot from inside before fleeing into a nearby bush.
He hid there before later making his way to one of the cabins at the same mine, where he slept.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Hdebe’s arrest.
Police are still investigating the case and are looking for the other suspects who took part in the assault and kidnapping.
