Two youths allegedly steal Kombi, pirate with it

Two Bulawayo youth allegedly stole a commuter omnibus which was left parked on the parking bay in the city and started pirating with it carrying passengers to Kesington in Bulawayo before it broke down leading to their arrest.

The two Ayanda Dube and Busani Tshuma were denying the charge of theft of a vehicle when they appeared before Bulawayo Regional Court magistrate Mark Dzira.

Dube was represented by a lawyer Nozithelo Mpofu while Tshuma was not represented.

Dube in his defence said he never participated in the theft and even did not know his core accused Tshuma.

Tshuma in his defence said Dube was lying that he did not know him. He said on the day, he was at Max Garage in the city where he sells his wares as a vendor when Dube came driving the Kombi in question. He said since he knew Dube as a kombi driver he did not think that on the day he was driving a stolen car. He said he then loaded the kombi with 14 passengers and all were going to Kesington. He said he went with Dube and on arrival at Kesington the passengers disembarked but when they were returning to Bulawayo one of the tyres got a puncture and Dube left him guarding the Kombi saying he was going to collect the spare wheel from his work place.

Tshuma said Dube never returned until the next day. He said he was later on the following day while still in the Kombi guarding it when the police came and arrested him. Tshuma said they later phoned the owner of the Kombi telling him about the car and he confirmed that it was stolen. He said after his arrest the police took him back into town where he later showed them where Dube stays.

Allegations were that the two stole the Kombi on July 15 while parked in the city centre.

The case continues.