Trial of women ‘who plotted neighbour’s robbery’ on ice
SPECTATORS in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court gallery cheered as they walked outside after hearing the case against two women alleged to have hatched a plot to rob their neighbour was postponed to next year.
Wiseman Sibiya was robbed in his home of his fossil watch, a brown watch, a cellphone, and FNB bank card with a gun being used during the commission of the alleged offence.
The robbery had taken place after Zamokuhle Ndlovu and Lindiwe “Malindi” Sithole, from Kwadabeka, had allegedly conspired with others to rob Sibiya of his severance pay.
Yesterday the two women walked into court confidently smiling and waving to relatives in the gallery.
The duo appeared shocked in the dock when the matter was adjourned to January 19 for further investigation. Outside court, those related to
Sibiya cheered, especially after seeing the two women taken aback by the postponement.
State prosecutor N Xulu had asked for the matter to be adjourned as there were still investigations outstanding – 205 evidence (relating to cellphone date), a voice recording, facilitating downloads and comparisons of it.
Before the two women walked out of the dock, Ndlovu, after raising her hand through her Legal Aid attorney T Ramkissoon, said when they were arrested they had some of their belongings taken.
“I’ve been advised that accused two (Sithole) had a Sassa card on her when she was arrested, her family needs it to support the family,” said Ramkissoon.
Magistrate Wendalynn Robinson replied that the investigating officer would be best suited to address the matter.
Ndlovu and Sithole were refused bail last month by Robinson.
Before Ndlovu and Sithole made their first appearance in court a recording of a telephone conversation between two women and a man was being shared on social media.
In the recording, the women – believed to be Ndlovu, 21, and Sithole, 41 – detail to the man that the would-be victim about to get money was known to him and that he should wear a mask and a hat.
When the women were applying for bail, investigating officer Sergeant Mondli Sithole said he recording thad led police to them.
He said that Sibiya recognised the women’s voices and when Sithole was made to listen to the recording she admitted that it was indeed her voice.