Bazley robbery accused appear in court
The pair were arrested in connection with two house robbery cases earlier this year
NJABULO Eugene Gwamanda and co-accused Dumisani Ndlovu appeared in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application on Tuesday, February 6.
The duo, who were arrested in connection with two house robbery cases earlier this year, had their hearing postponed to February 12 after investigating officer, Detective Constable Cliffy Pillay of the Scottburgh SAPS Task Team, opposed bail.
Gwamanda (24) and Ndlovu (26) appeared in court again on Monday this week, when the case was again postponed until Friday, February 16.
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Background of the crimes:
A couple returning to their Hilltop Road home in Bazley on January 5, was confronted by four men, two of whom were armed.
They were forced at gunpoint into their property and the intruders demanded keys to the couple’s vehicle and safe.
The husband’s initial failure to cooperate resulted in his being struck with a spade in the abdomen and knee.
“They were trussed up and made to lie face down on the bedroom floor for the next two hours while the robbers ransacked the house, taking the safe containing a rifle and two handguns, a substantial amount of money, two LED TV sets and various pieces of jewellery,” said Scottburgh SAPS communications officer, Captain Vincent Pandarum.
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On January 8, a 61-year-old Pietermaritzburg man was in the garden of his holiday home in Marine Drive, Bazley when his nephew came and told him he had heard his grandmother screaming in the house.
Approaching the house, the man noticed that the curtains had been drawn and all the doors closed.
“He fetched his firearm from the outbuilding and went into the main house, where he found his 83-year-old mother crying and a man wearing a balaclava with a gun in his hand,” said Captain Pandarum.
An exchange of gunfire between the man and the intruder followed. The intruder and two accomplices fled the scene, having stolen a cellphone.
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A blood trail left behind suggested that one of the intruders had been wounded during the exchange of gunfire.
“Investigations led members of the Ugu Cluster Operational Command Centre and the Durban Metro K9 and Field Unit, to the King Edward Hospital in Durban where the wounded suspect was found,” said Captain Pandarum.
“He was placed under arrest and is currently under police guard. He had sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest and one to his hand during the shootout.”
A second suspect was later arrested in Chesterville, where police recovered a substantial amount of money and a wristwatch which has been linked to the Hilltop Road robbery.
A firearm and more jewellery were also recovered and the suspect detained.
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