6 appear in court over foiled armed robbery

Six suspected armed robbers have appeared in court facing attempted armed robbery charges after a Bulawayo businessman allegedly returned fire when the gang stormed his shop and opened fire during a failed daylight robbery.

The businessman, who operates a tuckshop at Warringham plots on the outskirts of Bulawayo, reportedly used his legally registered 9mm FN Browning pistol to fight back, forcing the suspects to flee without taking any property.

The accused are Thabo Ndlovu (29), Mennerd Sibanda (24), Forward Dube (29), Prince Makhaza, Lerato Takane and Norman Hadebe (52). They appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibongile Marondedze.

Ndlovu, Sibanda, Makhaza, Dube and Takane are based in Johannesburg, South Africa, while Hadebe resides in Magwegwe North, Bulawayo.

The six, who were not legally represented, were remanded in custody to October 30 and advised to approach the High Court for bail.

Prosecutor Karen Gundani told the court that the alleged robbery occurred on October 14 at around 2.30pm, when the complainant was in his bedroom while employees served customers in the shop.

The court heard that two of the suspects allegedly entered the premises and bought a packet of sausages while surveying the shop. After they left, three others reportedly entered, pretending to be customers.

One of the suspects allegedly produced a pistol and demanded money from the workers, prompting the businessman to leave his bedroom to investigate the commotion.

"Upon being confronted by the complainant, the accused persons opened fire towards the complainant, who dashed for cover and returned fire using his legally registered pistol," Gundani told the court.

The pistol had reportedly been issued for the protection of cash in transit.

The suspects allegedly shot their way out of the premises and escaped into nearby bush. No injuries were reported, and no property was stolen.

A police report was subsequently filed, and investigators recovered four spent 9mm cartridges at the scene.

A search party comprising detectives later allegedly found one of the suspects hiding in a thicket in the surrounding bush. Police reportedly recovered a PAK pellet gun without serial numbers.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Dube and Hadebe in Magwegwe North, where police had laid an ambush.

The remaining suspects were arrested in Bulawayo city centre, where they allegedly intended to regroup before fleeing to South Africa.

The allegations are before the court, and the accused have not yet been convicted.