A Bulawayo man has been sentenced to six months in prison for stealing thousands of dollars from his employer to pay for a traditional cleansing ritual. The 51-year-old driver’s elaborate tale of robbery and mysteriously transformed money failed to convince the court, leading to his conviction.
Bongani Matshazi, a resident of Barham Green suburb, worked for Zimsend Pvt Ltd. His job involved transporting funds, a responsibility that ultimately led to his downfall. On February 25th, at approximately 11am, Matshazi contacted his operations manager with a shocking story: he claimed he had been robbed. This prompted him to report the incident to Figtree Police Station.
However, the police investigation uncovered a different narrative. Their findings revealed that Matshazi had fabricated the robbery story. Instead of being a victim of theft, he had used the money, a substantial sum of US$7,259 and R10,000, for a far different purpose.
Matshazi’s defence in court was as unusual as the crime itself. He admitted to taking the money, but explained that he had intended to use it for a spiritual cleansing ceremony conducted by a traditional healer. He described the ritual, claiming he placed the cash in an envelope and handed it over to the healer.
However, according to Matshazi, he later experienced a change of heart and attempted to reverse the transaction. Upon seeking the return of his money, he discovered a bizarre transformation: the cash had inexplicably turned into worthless paper and old bond notes.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs Evia Matura, found Matshazi’s story unconvincing. She highlighted the seriousness of theft from an employer, emphasizing the inherent breach of trust involved. Mrs Matura noted the significant amount stolen and the minimal amount recovered – only US$530.
“The degree of moral blameworthiness was high and the offender deserves a custodial sentence. Only US$530 was recovered from the sum of US$7,259 and R10,000, which was entrusted to the offender, thus, the offender benefited greatly from the commission of the offence,” stated Mrs. Matura.
The magistrate further condemned Matshazi’s attempt to conceal his crime with the false robbery report.
“Furthermore the employee tried to cover up the crime by making a false report that he had been robbed and yet he had diverted the money to pay a traditional healer for cleansing purposes,” she said.
While acknowledging that Matshazi appeared to be a first-time offender, Mrs Matura stressed the gravity of his actions.
“While the court noted that the offender seemed to be a novice in terms of committing crime, he had started from the deeper end and had consequently drowned,” she remarked.
The court initially handed down a 30-month prison sentence. However, a portion of the sentence was suspended. Twelve months were suspended on the condition that Matshazi refrains from similar offences within the next five years. An additional 12 months were suspended contingent upon him repaying the stolen money. This leaves Matshazi with an effective jail term of six months.
The prosecution, led by Mr Mehluli Ndlovu, presented the case against Matshazi, detailing the events leading up to his arrest and subsequent conviction. The case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of theft, regardless of the intended use of the stolen funds. Matshazi’s attempt to use traditional beliefs to justify his actions ultimately failed, resulting in a prison sentence.
