FORMER MP’S SHOPS ROBBED WITH TOY GUN

MANZINI – Former Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Mabuza’s two hardware stores were robbed by conductors and bus rank marshals using a toy gun.

Bus conductors; Mathokoza Nhlabatsi (24) of Dumako and Thamsanqa Mamba (23) of Sithobelweni and two bus rank marshals; Bongani Simelane (26) of Khubuta and Dumisa Nhlabatsi (23) also of Dumako, are said to have pounced on two security guards from each hardware store and tied them up using wires and masking tape before ordering them to lead them to where money and other valuable items were kept.

The former MP owns two hardware stores trading as Baceth Hardware situated at Mliba and Luve.
Information gathered from court documents was that some of the accused first went to Luve and found a security guard, one Daniel Dlamini.

They assaulted Daniel and tied his hands and legs with a wire, and further stuffed his mouth with his woollen hat. Daniel tried fighting, however, he ended up being unconscious, it was revealed in court during trial. The accused are said to have used two bars to open the entrance of the hardware store and later went away with cash (E2 600) and a cellphone valued at E300.

It was revealed that the accused returned three days later to rob the same hardware store, however, they failed as security had been tightened. A week later, they went to Mliba and found another security guard, Mandla Magagula, whom they also tied up with masking tape on the hands, mouth and legs. It is said they dragged him along the floor and ordered that he show them where the till and safe were.

This was after they had broken the doors using the two bars they used at Luve. When they entered the hardware store, they took the safe, which had an amount of E3 000 and a wallet which belonged to a customer that had E70 in it. The accused were each sentenced to three years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

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