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MBABANE - Police had to be called to assist in retrieving a runaway suspect who threw himself into the Mbabane River on Wednesday.
Sikhumbuzo Dlamini (29) of Mbuluzi threw himself into the river to hide from a mob which bayed for his blood, after he had stolen under garments valued at E5 913 at Woolworths in Mbabane.
It is said that the mob responded after they heard Xolile Dlamini shouting for help while chasing after the suspect.
Testifying against Sikhumbuzo, Xolile who is employed as a sales assistant, told the court that while at the shop, one of her colleagues requested her to keep an eye on Sikhumbuzo.
This, Xolile said was after her colleague had seen Sikhumbuzo carrying a black refuse bag inside the shop.
“My colleague told me that she suspected that the customer was stealing because he seemed frightened when he saw her coming towards him,” Xolile told the court.
She informed the court that as she monitored Sikhumbuzo, she saw him leaving the shop with the refuse bag without paying.
She stated that she followed Sikhumbuzo and requested to search the refuse bag.
Xolile told the court that Sikhumbuzo took some strides as she held the plastic bag.
Threw
“He then threw the plastic bag on my face and ran away.
“At the time, I couldn’t notice that my knee had twisted.
“I shouted for help and the security guards deployed at the mall came to my assistance.
“However, I couldn’t run anymore because I was feeling the pain in the knee,” she said.
She stated that she went back to fetch the clothes while the security guards continued to chase after Sikhumbuzo.
Xolile told the court that Sikhumbuzo ran towards Pick n Pay and disappeared near the
Mbabane River next to Pick n Pay Shisanyama. She mentioned that the mob was joined by patrolling police officers, who retrieved Sikhumbuzo from the river.
Xolile told the court that Sikhumbuzo was then taken to the Mbabane Police Station, where she was later called to record a statement.
Reason
Sikhumbuzo had no questions during cross-examination.
He also told the court that he had no reason to be freed from the blame.
However, when mitigating on the sentence, he told the court that throwing himself into the river was the last option as he feared that that mob might kill him. He claimed that he wanted to sell the stolen items in order to bring food to the table, as he lived with his eight siblings.
He said he had become a breadwinner after the death of his sister, who was shot during the unrest in Manzini.
Magistrate Innocent Motsa considered the mitigation by Sikhumbuzo. However, he stated that theft would never be justified in law.
Sikhumbuzo was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E2 500. He was told the E2 500 was appropriate when he asked for a reduction.