NELSPRUIT- A 43-year-old cleaner of Imperial Toyota said he was tempted to steal brake -fluid worth an estimated value of R2 100 from his workplace.

Mr Dumsani Mdhluli who conducted his own defence pleaded guilty to the charges of theft when he appeared before the Nelspruit Regional Court A on January 9.

He told the magistrate that on the day in question he was tempted not to dump the brake- fluid in the dustbins as they normally did after cleaning and decided to take them so that he can sell them to a scrapyard near his home to make extra cash for himself. He was caught on his way out of his work, “I was caught on my way out of the workplace, police were called, they found the brake-fluid in my possession and I was arrested,” he said.

“I knew that I what I did was wrong, I was tempted,” he continued.

In his mitigation of sentence Mdhluli pleaded for a lesser sentence stating that he was looking after his children since his wife was not well and stayed at traditional healer’s place due to her poor health condition. “She also needs to go to hospital for an operation and if I’m kept in custody no one help her and the children,” he said.

The state’s prosecutor told the court that although Mdhluli showed remorse to his unlawful deeds but cases of theft were prevalent around Nelspruit. The prosecutor then request the court to sentence the accused to suitable sentence that will serve s deterrent to him and other would- be suspects of similar crime.

Mdhluli was also asked to explain why the court should declare him fit to possess a firearm in the future if he wishes to own one. “This is my first conviction and I never convicted of murder or assault before therefore the court should allow me to possess a firearm in the future if I need one,” said Mdhluli.

When passing judgement the magistrate found Mdhluli guilty of the charge and emphasised that cases of theft were indeed prevalence in the area. “Today only I had more than nine cases of theft in my roll, what makes yours worse is that you stole from your employer. You were in possession of trust and it is your own fault that you were fired from your place of work,” said the magistrate. She then sentenced Mdhluli to a R1 000 fine with an option of three months in prison. The court also did not declare him unfit to possess a firearm.