Herdboy steals to spite employer

"I broke into my employer's house to punish her for dismissing me without notice," a 25- year-old man told a magistrate in Plumtree.

Alfred Nkomo of Lidethe area in Marula, who was employed as a herdboy at Cheraton Extension Farm in Mangwe District, broke into his employer, Thembinkosi Nyathi's house in protest of what he termed "unfair" dismissal.

Nkomo was spotted while searching the house by a fellow work mate at the farm, Elvis Mpofu who alerted other farm workers. Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, on Tuesday heard that the workers apprehended Nkomo and handed him over to their employer.

The prosecutor, Medica Tshuma told the court that on December 4 at Cheraton Extension Farm, Nkomo entered Thembinkosi Nyathi's house during her absence.

"On the day in question Nyathi summoned Nkomo in the morning and handed over some money to him as payment for his duties and told him that he had been dismissed from work," Tshuma said.

He added: "Nkomo later returned around 1pm on the same day and retrieved keys from the complainant's car which was parked in the yard and used them to gain entry to the house. Elvis spotted him in the house and reported him."

Nkomo was employed as a herdboy during the period extending from November 28 to December 3 this year. He was convicted on his own plea of guilty and in mitigation he said he had been unfairly dismissed by the complainant who fired him without warning.

Nkomo, who said he was not prepared to lose his job as he depended on it, was sentenced to 12 months in prison of which six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within the period commit a similar offence.

The remaining six months were suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at Marula Primary School.