Africa-Press – Eswatini. Over E250 000 was stolen on Saturday night at Phumelela’s Mobile Money spaza, which is a stone’s throw from the Mbabane Police City Post.
The incident took place at Swazi Plaza where the spaza is situated about 9-10 metres from Shoprite and the Mbabane Police Post respectively. According to the owner of the Mobile Money (MoMo) spaza, who identified herself as Dumisile Vilakati, she said she was wondering as to how she would be able to operate her business as all the cash was stolen. When narrating how the money was stolen, she said on the day in question; she was told by her two employees that it was a busy day, which saw a lot of customers who deposited money until 4pm.
When asked why such an amount was not banked, she said this was done in order to ensure that when a customer requested to withdraw or deposit through MoMo, they were able to give that service. “I started my business in 2001 and I have never lost a single cent. It was the first time that such an amount was left without being deposited,” she said. Vilakati said she got to know about the robbery when she was contacted by the security guards who patrolled the Swazi Plaza. She said the security personnel informed her that the door to her spaza was not locked. She said she discovered that the padlock they used to lock the door, and the money were missing. “I reported the matter at Mbabane Police Station, where the police swiftly responded to the scene and recorded statements and took fingerprint samples,” she narrated.
Reported
Vilakati shared that the police who reported to the scene also shared the same thoughts, that there was no signs of forced entry to the spaza but it looked as though the suspect(s) used a key to gain access. She said the total amount that was stolen was E254 000, which was inclusive of her funeral parlour policy payments. The businesswoman said the incident had affected her badly. She said she was stressed as she did not know how she would operate her business today. “Even if the whole amount is not recovered, I want to know who stole it, I have my suspicions. I say this because this was the first time an incident of this nature occurred, the same night E250 000 was not deposited.” When this incident was narrated to Swazi Plaza Facilities Manager Thando Nxumalo, he said he had not yet been notified by the security guards who were on duty.
Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident. She said the owner of the MoMo spaza discovered the money to have been stolen at around 11pm. She said over E250 000 was stolen and what was astonishing was that there were no signs of a break-in. As of yesterday, there were no arrests made in connection with the robbery. “Anyone with information in connection with the robbery incident can contact the nearest police station,” she said. She further added that not all police posts operate 24 hours.
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