9 COUNTS FOR SOUTH GATE HEIST SUSPECT

MANZINI- The suspect who has been arrested in connection with the about E181 000 Southgate Shopping Centre heist, has been slapped with nine counts.

Mbongiseni Mboyi Nxumalo (40) of Ndunayithini under Chief Gasa WaNgwane, appeared before Senior Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini at the Manzini Magistrates Court yesterday. He was charged with a total of nine counts which include; three counts of armed robbery, four counts of attempted murder, and two of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act.
Nxumalo is one of the six men who allegedly arrived at the shopping centre in the morning of May 5, 2022, and allegedly stole money amounting to about E181 000. In the process, two cash-in-transit security guards were shot as the robbers fired multiple gunshots.

Threatened

According to the charge sheet, in count one, Nxumalo allegedly intentionally used force and violence, and threatened Cash Security Services guards with guns, not to offer any resistance with guns. It was highlighted that he induced submission to Thulani Mthethwa and stole from him money, amounting to E181 960. This happened on May 5, 2022 at the Southgate Shopping Centre in Ngwane Park. In count two, the accused purportedly attempted to kill Petros Sibanyoni, a security guard, by shooting him in the right thigh with a firearm, with the intention to kill him. He was further alleged to have intentionally attempted to murder Isaiah Matse by shooting him in the stomach with a firearm. In count four, he reportedly attempted to kill one Sihle Dludlu by shooting him once in the left leg.

In the fifth count, he was charged with the attempted murder of Johnson Msibi, by shooting his car windscreen while he was sitting inside the vehicle. Further, it was reported that he used force and violence, and threatened the security guards not to offer any resistance. It was alleged that he also induced submission to Sindi Maziya, stealing her Samsung Galaxy cellphone, which was blue in colour. It was valued at E2 300. In count seven, Nxumalo was charged for contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act, for being in the unlawful possession of a Fabrique Nationale Herstal Beigique, a firearm, with a scratched serial number and a magazine. This was on May 13, 2022 at Sibayeni, Kandlunganye. He was reportedly charged with the same count, for being found in the unlawful possession of 12 live rounds of ammunition of the same kind of firearm.

The accused was lastly charged with armed robbery, for allegedly using force and violence, by threatening with guns and ordering Swazi Lokotfwako and further stealing his Toyota Noah. It was registered WSD 096 AL and valued at E60 000. He also purportedly stole a black Samsung Galaxy valued at E1 500. The accused elected to conduct his own defence. He was remanded in custody until May 25, 2022 pending committal to the High Court. He was further advised of his rights to apply for bail at the High Court.

Member

Worth noting is that Nxumalo is a founding member of the Swaziland People’s Liberatory Movement (SPLM). When asked why members of the political party were not seen in court to support one of their own, the party’s President, Vusi Shongwe, said: “We could not have shouted to the whole country chief, that we were there. But we had members in attendance.” Unlike in normal circumstances where members of political affiliations were usually seen in numbers and clad in their uniformed T-shirts, none of those in court had visible clothing resembling any organisation. The accused was seen being escorted by a few people.

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