Herd boy brutally murders employer over unpaid wages
In a horrific turn of events, a 24-year-old herd boy named Mkholeli Ndlovu has been arraigned before the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court, facing a charge of murder.
According to the state’s allegations, the incident occurred on November 13th, 2022, at around 9 PM in Chadeda village. Ndlovu, who was employed as the herd boy of the now-deceased, Teboka Sebata (58), reportedly engaged in a dispute with Sebata over his outstanding wages.
The court heard that when Ndlovu asked Sebata for his pay, she informed him that she did not have the money to settle the debt at that moment. Enraged by her response, Ndlovu grabbed an axe and viciously struck Sebata multiple times on the head and neck, leading to her untimely death.
After the brutal attack, Ndlovu took the victim’s kitchen utensils and cell phone before fleeing the scene. Sebata succumbed to the extensive head and neck injuries inflicted by the accused.
Ndlovu remained on the run for 18 months, until he was finally apprehended in Kwekwe on May 20th, 2024. The police were able to track him down by tracing the deceased’s cell phone, which he had stolen during the incident.
The accused has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on June 7th, 2024.
As the judicial process unfolds, the community grapples with the aftermath of this harrowing incident, seeking solace and hoping that the legal system will provide a measure of closure and justice for the victims and their loved ones.
