Security guards convicted for stealing company truck

Two security guards from Upper Rangemore have appeared in court after stealing a company vehicle belonging to their employer, Southland Construction, and later abandoning it near Khami River.

The accused, Zibusiso Ndlovu (24) and Marvellous Gumede (27), were arraigned before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira last Friday. The pair pleaded guilty to a theft charge and were remanded in custody to today for sentencing.

According to the State, represented by the investigating officers, the incident occurred on August 12 this year at the company's Khayalami construction site in Upper Rangemore.

On that day, a Southland Construction employee, Njabulo Moyo, parked a company truck at the site before leaving. While on duty, Ndlovu and Gumede allegedly took advantage of his absence and drove the vehicle away without authorisation.

The following morning, Moyo returned to find the truck missing. He also discovered that a three-horsepower water pump, 60 litres of diesel, and six empty 25-litre containers were gone — and that both guards had vanished.

A report was made at Nkulumane Police Station, prompting investigations. Detectives from the CID Vehicle Theft Squad in Bulawayo eventually located the stolen truck on August 17 near Khami River in Umguza District.

Five days later, a police tip-off led to the arrest of the two men at Gravesite Mine in Mbembesi.

Both Ndlovu and Gumede remain in custody pending sentencing.