By Siphesihle Dlamini
Bongani Mncina, a 44-year-old resident of Ntfonjeni was charged for failing to settle his fuel bill at Engen Cooper Centre.
The incident, which took place on March 19, 2024, saw Mncina promising to pay E200 for fuel but ultimately failing to do so, leading to charges of theft by pretence being brought against him.
Appearing before the Mbabane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Mncina opted to represent himself and promptly pleaded guilty to the charges laid against him.
In his mitigation, Mncina explained to the court that he had intended to make the payment using MoMo Pay but was delayed due to attending to a person involved in an accident.
ALSO READ: Spooked by crime, Ecuadoreans train…
“Your worship, I was not running away. The person who had to pay using MoMo pay was involved in a car accident. I was not fleeing,” he said.
Upon his return to the garage, he was shocked to discover that a case had already been opened against him.
“To show that I was not resisting paying the fuel bill, I came back with the money. But to my surprise, I was already on the law’s books,” he added.
Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi, after carefully reviewing the case and considering Mncina’s explanation, handed down a sentence of E2 000 or a year imprisonment.
However, displaying a sense of compassion and understanding, the Principal Magistrate decided to suspend the sentence for three years on the condition that Mncina refrain from committing a similar offence in the future.
