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Kombi crew kidnaps woman over cellphone
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A Bulawayo kombi crew has been sentenced to nine months in jail for kidnapping a 23-year-old woman after accusing her of stealing a mobile phone. Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu (35) and Proud Mpofu (24) appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Dambudzo Malunga on Tuesday, facing charges of kidnapping.
Magistrate Malunga found the two men guilty, stating, "You have been found guilty as charged," and proceeded to hand down the sentence.
"You are sentenced to nine months imprisonment. One month is suspended because you are first-time offenders, another one is suspended because it might destroy your families since you are breadwinners, and another one is suspended because the complainant did not suffer any injuries," Malunga ruled.
The magistrate expressed strong disapproval of the men's actions, labeling them as "barbaric." He remarked that Ndlovu and Mpofu had wrongfully accused the young woman, Nokunqoba Ngwane, of stealing a mobile phone, and instead of taking her to the police station just 100 meters away, they detained her for an hour and a half in their kombi.
Malunga said the actions of Ndlovu and Mpofu were serious, as they had kidnapped a vulnerable woman, inflicted emotional trauma on her, and failed to apologize for their behavior. "Ngwane is just 23 years old. By kidnapping her, you inflicted trauma on the lady, and during court proceedings, you never apologized to Ngwane for your actions," the magistrate stated.
The court heard that on November 18, Ndlovu and Mpofu had forced Ngwane into their kombi after accusing her of stealing a cellphone. The two men then drove her to and from Woodville without her consent. When Ngwane attempted to escape, Mpofu reportedly pushed her back into the kombi and struck her with the door.
The court's decision reflects the seriousness of the crime and serves as a reminder of the consequences of such actions.
Magistrate Malunga found the two men guilty, stating, "You have been found guilty as charged," and proceeded to hand down the sentence.
"You are sentenced to nine months imprisonment. One month is suspended because you are first-time offenders, another one is suspended because it might destroy your families since you are breadwinners, and another one is suspended because the complainant did not suffer any injuries," Malunga ruled.
The magistrate expressed strong disapproval of the men's actions, labeling them as "barbaric." He remarked that Ndlovu and Mpofu had wrongfully accused the young woman, Nokunqoba Ngwane, of stealing a mobile phone, and instead of taking her to the police station just 100 meters away, they detained her for an hour and a half in their kombi.
Malunga said the actions of Ndlovu and Mpofu were serious, as they had kidnapped a vulnerable woman, inflicted emotional trauma on her, and failed to apologize for their behavior. "Ngwane is just 23 years old. By kidnapping her, you inflicted trauma on the lady, and during court proceedings, you never apologized to Ngwane for your actions," the magistrate stated.
The court heard that on November 18, Ndlovu and Mpofu had forced Ngwane into their kombi after accusing her of stealing a cellphone. The two men then drove her to and from Woodville without her consent. When Ngwane attempted to escape, Mpofu reportedly pushed her back into the kombi and struck her with the door.
The court's decision reflects the seriousness of the crime and serves as a reminder of the consequences of such actions.
Source - newsday
