Beitbridge – A Beitbridge woman suffered a harrowing ordeal on Tuesday evening when she was robbed at gunpoint of her vehicle, a Toyota GD6 Twin Cab, along with a cellphone and cash. The incident occurred while she was attending to the solemn task of processing burial documents for a deceased relative.
The Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Chiratidzo Dube, confirmed the incident and stated that intensive investigations are currently underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
According to Insp Dube, the robbery took place at approximately 2030 hours outside Doves Funeral Parlour in Beitbridge. The woman, accompanied by her two sisters, had gone to the parlour to make arrangements following the death of a relative.
“The complainant parked her vehicle, a white Toyota GD6 Twin Cab with registration number HKY 460 L, outside Doves Funeral Parlour and entered Doves offices, leaving her two sisters seated in the motor vehicle,” Insp Dube explained.
After spending about 20 minutes inside the funeral parlour, the woman returned to her vehicle. “Upon arrival, before she could start the vehicle, three unknown male accused persons who were all medium built approached her,” said Insp Dube.
The police spokesperson provided a description of the assailants. “One of the accused persons was wearing a purple shirt and a pair of black trousers. The other two accused persons were wearing dark clothes, and they were not covering their faces.”
The situation quickly turned menacing when one of the men brandished a firearm. “One of the accused persons, who was holding a black pistol, speaking in Sotho language, pointed the firearm to the complainant who was already seated at the driver’s seat whilst demanding car keys,” Insp Dube recounted.
Fearing for their lives, the woman and her sisters complied with the robbers’ demands. “The accused person ordered the woman and her two sisters to disembark from the vehicle whilst the other two accused persons were standing outside the vehicle near the driver’s door. Fearing for their lives, the complainant and her two sisters disembarked from the vehicle leaving the car keys and all their belongings in the vehicle.”
With the keys in hand, the robbers made their escape. “The accused persons got into the complainant’s vehicle and drove off at a high speed to an unknown destination,” said Insp Dube.
The stolen vehicle contained a number of valuable items belonging to the victim. “Inside the motor vehicle was complainant’s black handbag containing her driver’s licence, valid Temporary Import Permit, motor vehicle registration book of the stolen vehicle in the name of Rachel Inja a South African national (NFPK), Samsung S 24 Ultra cell phone with an Econet line belonging to the complainant and cash amounting to ZAR 3000,” Insp Dube detailed.
The incident was reported to the police later that same evening. Authorities are appealing to anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to come forward and help bring the perpetrators to justice. The brazen nature of the robbery, carried out in the vicinity of a funeral parlour, has left many in Beitbridge deeply concerned. The police have assured the public that they are doing everything possible to track down the criminals and recover the stolen vehicle and property.
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