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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent—
A FIVE-man-gang allegedly raided an Esigodini businesswoman’s home, tied her up with with barbed wire and burnt her breast and thighs with a log while demanding $3,000 from her. The robbers dragged the woman from bed where she was sleeping with her husband and stripped her naked before assaulting her.

Samukeliso Dlamini, the owner of Ziyadinga General Dealer in Esigodini, was last week rushed to hospital following the torture.

The gang got away with $1,200, a Nokia cellphone and clothes valued at $2,147.

One of the suspected robbers, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, 33, of Ntabenemnyama village under Chief Gwebu briefly appeared before Gwanda magistrate Arafat Kozanai facing robbery and assault charges.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to Thursday.

Prosecuting, Marllony Mazorodze said on July 6 this year at around midnight, Ndlovu together with four accomplices who are still at large, went to Dlamini’s house while she was sleeping with her husband, Butholezwe Nxumalo.

“The accused and his accomplices went to Ziyadinga General Dealer, Adma’s Farm in Esigodini wielding logs. Upon arrival at the shop, they went into the main house where the complainant and her husband Butholezwe Nxumalo were sleeping. They forced open the locked door and got inside the room,” said the prosecutor.

“The accused person and his colleagues then dragged the complainant from her bed and undressed her. They then started to assault her with logs all over her body demanding $3,000 from her,” he said.

Mazorodze told the court that Nxumalo was also assaulted on the head several times with a log when he tried to defend his wife.

The court heard that Dlamini initially refused to give in to the robbers’ demands but when they continued to torture her, she directed them to a wardrobe where they took $800.

Mazorodze said after taking the cash, Ndlovu and his gang continued demanding $3,000 from Dlamini.

“The accused persons tied the complainant’s hands and legs with barbed wire while one of the accused went outside and brought a burning log and started to burn the complainant on her breast and thighs, demanding more money.

“Due to the pain, the complainant ended up giving them additional $400. They also took some groceries, a Nokia cellphone and clothes,” the court heard.

Dlamini and her husband identified Ndlovu as they knew him, leading to his arrest.

Although the couple was hospitalised after the ordeal, it was not mentioned in court to which hospital they were taken to.