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Nokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A Bulawayo commuter omnibus conductor who slapped a 16-year-old girl on the face for boarding another kombi after stopping his, was yesterday ordered to perform 105 hours of community service by a Western Commonage magistrate. Fortune Ncube, 27, slapped Sheneta Mhingidzi four times.Ncube appeared before provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo facing an assault charge.

Magistrate Moyo warned Ncube against bullying his passengers as they were his customers.

“Your job requires you to be kind to your passengers as they are your customers. You need to be helpful to them and show them directions whenever they need such help. Surely passengers have a right to choose which kombi to board and which one to avoid,” said Moyo.

Ncube told the court that he did not slap her four times but once and it was because he was angry.

“Your worship I’m sorry I erred. I was angry because she had stopped my kombi first but she decided to board another kombi,” said Ncube.

Ncube was sentenced to three months in prison of which two months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence of a similar nature within the period.

The remaining month was suspended on condition that Ncube performs 105 hours of community service at Pumula Police Station.

Prosecuting Mufaro Mageza told the court that February 26 this year, around 1PM, Mhingidzi was standing at Maunga turn off in Emakhandeni intending to board a kombi going to Cowdray Park.

The court heard that while she was waiting for a kombi, Ncube’s kombi passed by and Mhingidzi decided to stop a kombi which was following Ncube’s.

This angered Ncube who followed the kombi boarded by Mhingidzi which had stopped about 500m from Maunga turn off.

Mageza said Ncube confronted the teenager demanding to know why she did not board his kombi.

He then slapped Mhingidzi four times on the face.