Mpharane man accused of housebreaking, theft

Mpho Masheane, a resident of Mpharane who is facing charges of housebreaking and theft of household goods valued at M9 000, recently appeared before Leribe Magistrate, Thoora Semela.
The goods, allegedly stolen while the homeowner was at work in Newcastle, South Africa, include two large sound speakers, a DVD player, pots, building sand and bricks.
The complainant, ’Matšepo Silo, alleges that Masheane broke a window and door to gain entry into her unguarded property before leaving with the goods on July 28, 2024.
Silo received a message that her house had been broken into while the family was away and upon returning home, she found the house had been ran sacked with the items in question missing.
Investigations fingered Masheane, a family friend who had previously moulded bricks for the family.
Police recovered the speakers and the DVD player from Masheane’s house. Silo told the court that suspects Masheane had also stolen 350 bricks and building sand which he allegedly used to build his own house while Silo and her family were away.
Masheane, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, claimed that the complainant had lent him the speakers and the DVD player in 2021, but Silo rejected the claim.