Fuel station manager loses ZAR167,000 to robbers armed with toy gun
By Caleb Chikwawawa
A manager at a service station in Beitbridge was robbed of ZAR167,000 by five armed robbers who were armed with a toy gun, police have confirmed.
In a statement, Matabeleland South police provincial community relations liaison officer (CID) Detective Inspector Muteweri confirmed the arrest of suspects, Brilliant Gibbons alias “Kedha” (31), Reluctant Muleya (28), Siphelani Urayayi (32), James Ndou (27), and Ngonidzashe Dzumbunu (24).
They all face armed robbery charges over an incident that occurred on 6 November last year.
Muteweri said the suspects “are now clearing two counts of armed robbery”.
“On 15 January 2024, Detectives from CID Beitbridge, received information and arrested Reluctant Muleya, a taxi driver, for an armed robbery in which the complainant, a Manager at a local Service Station in Beitbridge was robbed of ZAR167 760,” he said.
“The accused person together with his accomplices, Brilliant Gibbons, alias Kedha, Siphelani Urayayi, James Ndou and Ngonidzashe Dzumbunu intercepted and robbed the complainant who was in transit to Masvingo after collecting daily takings from the Service Station.
“Upon arrest, Reluctant Muleya, implicated as his accomplices leading to their arrest.
“Further investigations unearthed that Ngonidzashe Dzumbunu, a fuel attendant at the service station, had connived with his accomplices and supplied information that led to the commission of the crime.
“A toy pistol used in the commission of the crime was subsequently recovered stashed in a mattress at Brilliant Gibbons’ residence.”
According to police, Brilliant Gibson has also been charged with a similar offence committed in October last year.
Said Detective Inspector Muteweri, “The suspect, together with Tapiwanashe Bhebhe and four other male adults who are still at large, waylaid the complainant by his gate and as the complainant was driving out, they fired two shots towards him.
“The complainant managed to escape but was outpaced by the suspects. They stabbed him several times with knives before getting away with ZAR500.”
The police detective appealed for information that could assist with the arrest of the remaining suspects.
