Nkosentsha Khumalo
The high suburban areas of Phelandaba and Gwabalanda in Bulawayo were transformed into a horrific war zone as a ruthless gang, wielding machetes and knives, struck fear into the hearts of residents during a series of home invasions.
The home invasion gang which wrecked havoc in Phelandaba and Gwabalanda suburbs, terrorising residents during the night and stealing property worth thousands of dollars are set to appear in court soon.
The accused persons allegedly installed fear into their victims during the night using machetes, knobkerries, knives, axes as well as fire arms.
Kelvin Njabulo Dube (30) from Pumula South and Prince Ndlovu (38) of Old Lobhengula appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Nobuhle Ndlovu last week and were not asked to plead to the charges.
Ndlovu remanded them in custody to July 27 for commencement of trial.
Prosecutor Portia Mshungu told the court that on May 11, 2022 and at around 2:30 am, Siphathisiwe Nyoni was asleep in her bedroom in Phelandaba West suburb when she was awakened by her dogs barking outside and she awakened her 15-year-old son.
They peeped through the sitting room window and noticed the robbers, Dube along with Ndlovu who were in the company of their accomplices only identified as Smally and Mengezi, who are still at large, cutting the locking system of the veranda enclosure gate.
The four member gang, who were putting on masks armed with machetes, knives and axes then gained entry after having forcibly opened the door with a sharp object and ordered the two into Nyoni’s bedroom demanding cash.
Nyoni showed them the cash which was inside the cash box in her wardrobe and the gang stole US$600, R10 000 and two Samsung cellphones.
They also stole US$400 and an IPhone promax from Nyoni’s son spare bedroom.
The machete gang then drove off in Nyoni’s Nissan Tiida and Mazda Demio vehicles which they later abandoned at Glencara area, Bulawayo.
During the same night at around 3:30 am, another victim Fortune Mpofu was sleeping with his family at Gwabalanda suburb when he heard the external door being forcefully opened.
Few minutes later he heard their bedroom door being forcefully opened and jumped but was attached by the machete gang armed with knives, machetes and iron bars as of count one.
They stole an IPhone X5, IPhone 65, Mac book laptop, Vivo Y3 cellphone and US$300.
They were identified by Nyoni at the scene as well as witnesses and were further identified as the perpetrators during identification parade which was conducted at the police station after their arrest.
After police investigations, the gang admitted to have committed the offences and their application for bail was opposed by the state at Western Commonage Court.
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