Farm workers who kidnapped and assaulted villager over juju granted bail

FIVE farm workers from Insiza in Matabeleland South who allegedly kidnapped and brutally assaulted a Fort Rixon villager accusing him of supplying a stock thief with juju to help him evade arrest were on Friday last week granted bail and released.

Bosman Sibindi (27), Godwill Mdimba (23), Hloniphani Sikhosana (20) Brain Sibanda (19) and William Dube (20) were not asked to plead to kidnapping charges when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Merlyn Mutshina applying for bail.

The magistrate granted them $20 bail each before remanding them to April 24 for trial. They were also ordered not to interfere with state witnesses, to reside at the given address and to report once at Shangani police station until their case is finalized.

The court heard that the five from Plot 04 Parkings Farms in Fort Rixon, on April 2 at 5.30pm went to 40-year-old Zinhle Nkomo's home.

They were armed with knobkerries, knives and machetes. The five accused Nkomo of supplying thieves with juju to evade arrest.

They allegedly b his hands using wire and force-marched him to a nearby bush where they kept him hostage for two hours, heavily assaulting him.

Nkomo reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the five.