FOUR ARMED ROBBERS BREAK INTO MINISTER GINA’S HOUSE  

MBABANE – Four bush knife-wielding robbers, including a 14-year-old, broke into Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr Tambo Gina’s home on Saturday night and made away with valuables.

The incident happened at around10pm, while the minister was away, attending the Buganu ceremony at Hlane Royal Residence in the Lubombo Region. The homestead is situated at Highlands View, on the outskirts of Mbabane, a few kilometers from the city centre. When the robbers arrived at the minister’s homestead, according to a source, one of them entered into the house and the others remained outside. The robber who was inside the house is said to have ordered a male occupant to lie on the floor and gave him a T-shirt to cover his face while threatening him with the bush knife.

The other robber reportedly joined him and they are said to have demanded to enter the minister’s bedroom. The source said the robbers told the male occupant that they had information to the effect that there was a lot of money in Dr Gina’s bedroom. There were two occupants in the house and the other one was in his bedroom when the robbers  attacked.

Cellphones

The occupant refused to allow the robbers into  the minister’s bedroom and that was when they began taking valuable items, such as laptops and cellphones, which they put in a bag before they took off. The house occupants are said to have pursued the robbers, who ran all the way to Mountain Inn. The source said while the occupants were chasing them, they raised the alarm. Security guards at Mountain Inn and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Depot, according to the source, joined the chase and the 14-year-old was apprehended. He was caught by the security guards and they handed him over to the police while the others escaped. All the stolen items, said the source, were recovered. The robber, who is said to have been carrying the bag containing the stolen goods, dropped it during the chase. The caught teenager was arrested. When questioned about the robbery, he is said to have disclosed that they had been sent by a certain man to commit the offence, who reportedly told them that there was some money in the house.

Son

Reached for comment, the minister confirmed to have received the report of the incident. He said when it all happened, he was away, attending the Buganu ceremony and had left behind his two sons. The minister said this was a common robbery and the people involved probably went to the same school as his son and they knew where they stayed. Common robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the arrest of a 14-year-old boy in connection with the robbery. She said the security personnel around the area did a tremendous job and the police were still looking for the other suspects. The area where the minister’s homestead is situated, especially places around Mountain Inn, once had many reports of housebreaking and in most instances the suspects were arrested by the police.

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