PIGG’S PEAK – A 41-year-old South African woman is alleged to be the central figure and kingpin behind a criminal ring that orchestrated a series of violent carjackings, armed robberies and business heists across northern Hhohho.
Constance Sibongile Nkambule of Naas, South Africa appeared before Pigg’s Peak Principal Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini alongside two male accomplices, following a string of offences. The group terrorised local motorists and shop owners. Nkambule stands jointly charged with Lungelo Dlamini (27) of Zandondo and Jozini Sifiso Magagula (30) of Kamhlushwa, South Africa. Upon arraignment, all three accused persons pleaded guilty to the charges, choosing to submit a statement of agreed facts rather than proceeding to oral evidence.
Information gathered by this publication indicates that Nkambule served as the crucial lure in the syndicate’s operations, exploiting the goodwill of unsuspecting motorists. All the accused were charged with six counts of robbery. Meanwhile, Lungelo was also charged with being illegally found in possession of five rounds of ammunition, and Magagula and Nkambule were charged with being in the country illegally.
On January 8, 2023, near Madlangempisi High School, a complainant, Dumsani Dlamini, who was driving a Honda Jazz, offered a ride to Nkambule and one male accomplice who were hitchhiking.
Nkambule sat in the front passenger seat while Dumsani was directed to pick up two more men waiting ahead. Once the vehicle reached a dip tank at Zandondo, a gun was pulled on the driver. Dumsani was threatened with pepper spray, robbed of his cash, phones and the vehicle valued at E65 000, before being dumped near Gucuka Royal Kraal.
In another incident, which forms count two, on December 30, 2022, the complainant, Ncobile Maziya, while at Dvokolwako Car Wash, offered a ride to Luve to a group containing Nkambule. Again, Nkambule took the front passenger seat. Mid-journey, she asked the driver to stop so she could answer a call of nature. The moment the vehicle stopped, her male accomplices drew a gun on Maziya and the passengers, robbing her of gold rings, cash and phones.
Nkambule’s role as the alleged mastermind extended to brazen business robberies, where she would enter shops first to scope out the layout and distract employees. At Manzana M.K.M. Grocery, Nkambule entered alone to buy Simba chips and lotion.
While the shopkeeper attended to her, a male accomplice entered, demanded Mobile Money funds, forced the clerk to her knees at gunpoint, and made off with over E11 000. She utilised a near-identical tactic at Siyabonga General Dealer, entering to ask for a currency exchange. Her accomplice then stormed the shop, struck a female worker on the head, and shouted at her before escaping with E15 400 in cash.
The gang’s crime spree came to an abrupt halt when officers from Mliba Police Station intercepted and arrested the trio on January 8, 2023. Among the items seized and detained by the court were a white Honda Fit registered SSD 267 DM, a grey Mazda Demio registered TSD 528 DM and a 100ml canister of pepper spray used by the South African Police Service.
In addition to multiple counts of armed robbery, Nkambule and Magagula face further charges for contravening the Immigration Act, solidifying their status as an international criminal element operating within Eswatini borders.
Furthermore, information gathered by this publication reveals that Nkambule was the alleged mastermind in luring people and owns a homestead in South Africa. A source added that the accused had started terrorising communities with such criminal offences, especially the robbery of shops and dagga, a long time ago.
During mitigation, Vusi Thomo, who was representing Lungelo and Nkambule, said his clients pleading guilty to all charges was a sign of being remorseful, and that their incarceration had made them see their mistakes. He also stated that the accused are breadwinners who have children and are currently unemployed.
Meanwhile, Magagula said during his mitigation that he had financial challenges, which led him to take a shortcut to make money after being tempted. He said that even Adam and Eve were tempted, and he suspected that he had been bewitched. He stated that he has now learnt that it is very painful to get money through the tears of other people. On the charge of being in the country illegally, he said he was visiting his grandmother, noting that his father is a liSwati and his mother resides in South Africa.
When issuing judgement, Pigg’s Peak Principal Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini said most of the stolen items were recovered and noted that the defendants are first-time offenders. Principal Magistrate Dlamini stated that robbery is a violent crime that leaves people deeply affected. She also stated that there is a high prevalence of robberies in the northern Hhohho Region, and it is the duty of the court to give a punitive sentence that will serve as a lesson to other people.
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The alleged kingpin, Sibongile Nkambule, having a conversation with her relative after she was sentenced. (R) The accused, Lungelo Dlamini and Jozini Magagula, had their fingerprints taken after being sentenced.