A Bulawayo man was recently arrested and charged with malicious damage to property and theft after he vandalized his employer’s truck in response to allegedly unpaid wages.
Roy Bonga, who worked as a driver for Small Dot Logistics, poured sugar into the engine of one of the company’s trucks after being summoned for a disciplinary hearing. He also stole the truck’s gearbox, valued at R60,000.
Bonga pleaded guilty to the charges in court. Magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa sentenced him to 420 hours of community service for the theft charge and fined him $200 for malicious damage to property.
When asked to explain his actions, Bonga told the court that his employer had failed to pay him what he was owed.
The court heard that on April 13, Bonga returned from a delivery trip and was told by a company manager to report to their Harare office for a hearing. Bonga then parked the truck and left with an unknown woman.
The next day, a new driver inspected the truck and discovered sugar granules in the engine oil tank. Further inspection revealed the missing gearbox.
Police were notified and Bonga was subsequently arrested. The stolen gearbox was recovered.
