Two Beit Bridge men, who fatally struck a local security guard as they stole chickens at a local fowl coup, have each been  sentenced to an effective 20 years in jail.

Mduduzi Tshakaza (44)  and Arnold Stewart Gono (29) had pleaded not guilty to murder but were convicted by High Court Judge Nicholas Ndou last Friday.

The court heard that on the night of 14 April last year, the pair decided to rob a fowl run, located in the industrial area of Beit Bridge. They found a security guard, Simbarashe Gwazvarwa (29), asleep at the site, however.

Armed with a knobkerrie, the pair woke the guard up and ordered him to remain calm and quiet as they stole ten chickens. However, Gwazvarwa tried to call for help and was struck three times on the forehead with the knobkerrie and was left lying unconscious on the ground as the thieves made off with their loot.

He was later discovered and rushed to the Beit Bridge District Hospital, where he later died. Tshakaza and Gono left one of the chickens at Tshakaza’s sister in the early hours of the day and later returned and asked her to slaughter and cook it for them.

The sister refused to oblige them, citing her religious beliefs. She reported the case to the police, resulting in the pair’s arrest.

Justice Ndou said the court viewed the crime in a “very serious light”, adding that Gwazvarwa had met his death simply because he was trying to carry out his guard duties and that the offence was committed under the cover of darkness.