28-year-old Simphiwe Makhoza Mazibuko, alias Sgoloza, had to leave his prison cell on April 24 to attend the Ezakheni Magistrate’s Court, where he was standing trial for theft and housebreaking with intent to steal.
The crime for which he was accused occurred in Ezakheni B-Section during August 2010. The accused forcefully entered a residential premises in the early hours of the morning while the occupants were asleep.
Various items including a television set, dishes and food from a refrigerator were taken. The occupants were unaware of what had transpired until they woke up.
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The crime was reported to police, who began their investigation. The crime scene was processed by forensic experts and all available evidence was collected. Among the evidence collected were identifiable fingerprints.
Mazibuko’s fingerprints were lifted from an item that had been removed from the fridge and left in the kitchen. He could not be traced immediately, but detectives did not give up. He was later arrested on another charge of housebreaking.
He was convicted and sentenced for that crime, for which he received a term of imprisonment. While still in prison, he was charged for the first housebreaking matter, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him. During the trial, evidence was given by witnesses including a fingerprint expert.
The magistrate found that the evidence presented by the state was enough to find him guilty and he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by a determined Sergeant NP Msimango of the Ezakheni Detective Service.
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