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MBABANE - “Investigation reveals that she is the mastermind in all the robberies,”
This was one of the submissions made by the investigator in the string of robberies involving a South African (SA) woman, Constance Sibongile Nkambule and four others.
It is alleged that Nkambule was the mastermind in all the crimes that were purportedly committed by her and her co-accused, and it is alleged that she was a member of a syndicate that specialised in robberies in Mpumalanga, SA. She has moved an urgent bail application at the High Court, which is opposed by the Crown. In her bail application, she claimed that the three men she was arrested with, had offered her a ride, not that she was acting jointly in furtherance of a common purpose with them to commit the crimes they were now facing.
Nkambule (39) of KaMhlushwa was arrested together with Lungelo Thandukwazi Dlamini (27) of Zandondo, Lwazi Gerald Mnisi (25) of KaMhlushwa and Jozini Sifiso also from KaMhlushwa in the Republic of South Africa. It is alleged that Nkambule inkhundla and the other accused persons, who are South African nationals, entered the country on December 30, 2022 through Mavula informal crossing next to Drikoppies Dam and proceeded to Mzimnene, where they reportedly robbed Bongani Mkhaliphi of his silver grey Mazda Demio and other items at gunpoint. According to the police, on the very same day, they allegedly proceeded to Dvokolwako, where they robbed Fortunate Tenele Mdluli and Delisile Zakithi Dlamini using the stolen motor vehicle.
Robberies
It is also alleged that on December 31, 2022, with her co-accused, Nkambule also went to Manzana where they committed a string of robberies. The offences were reportedly committed in different parts of northern Hhohho.
In his opposing papers, the investigator of the matter, Charleton Mtetwa, informed the court that: “May I further state that information gathered through investigation reveals that Nkambule was the mastermind of the robberies, since she was the one who disguised as a desperate person to ask for a ride from motorists. Whenever the car stops, her co-accused would emerge from the bushes and threaten the owner of the motor tinkhundla vehicle with a firearm and rob them their valuables,”
He told the court that Nkambule and her co-accused were apprehended on January 8, 2023 at Mpofu after being pursued by police officers from Mliba Police Station. According to the investigator, when Nkambule and her co-accused were arrested, they were found inside a stolen motor vehicle.
“May I state that Nkambule was found in the car with the other accused persons and she was sitting in the front seat. It is surprising how a person who had been offered a ride in a car with three occupants would then occupy the front seat of the very same motor vehicle which was reported stolen,” he argued.
It was further brought to the court’s attention that a pink Samsung cellphone, which was reported stolen from Dumisile Mfanzile Dlamini, was found in Nkambule’s possession, which she retrieved from her yellow handbag.
The bail application is still to be argued at the High Court and appearing for the Crown in this matter is Precious Dlamini from the chamber of the director of public prosecutions (DPP), while Sinakekelwe Mhlanga from Mabila Attorneys is representing Nkambule.