Two Zimbabwean men who had allegedly masqueraded as Good Samaritans before stealing R40 000 from South African accident victims, have appeared in court.

Sipho Phumulani (36) and Mthulisi Sibanda (30), both based in Johannesburg, appeared in front of a local magistrate, Mr Carrington Karidzagundi on theft charges, and the case was postponed to May 10. The two remain in custody.

The prosecutor, Mr Jabulani Mberesi, said on April 21 at 02:00, the victim and his (now deceased) brother, Agreement Mapaire (27), were coming from South Africa and heading to their rural home in Mberengwa in a Gauteng-registered double-cab Nissan Hardbody.

On approaching the 50 km peg along the Beit Bridge-Bulawayo road, they were involved in an accident that claimed the life of one brother. The two drivers were reportedly trying to avoid a stray cow, which resulted in a head-on collision and they both died instantly.

The accused persons, who were coming from Bulawayo and heading to Beit Bridge, arrived at the scene at the same time as the ambulance, which had come to ferry the accident victims to Beit Bridge District Hospital. One of the two men managed to recognize the complainant and offered to tow the victim’s trailer and some of his belongings to Beit Bridge.

The court heard that, on arrival in the border town, Phumulani and Sibanda later followed the complainant to the hospital ward where he had been admitted. They indicated to him that they had brought his goods and the trailer, which was left at the scene of the accident. The accused then offered to take the complainant’s bag, containing R102 700, for safekeeping while he recuperated.

Soon after recovering, the complainant contacted the suspects, so that they could return his bag which contained the money. On counting the money, he discovered that R40 000 was missing and a report was made to the police, leading to the arrest of the two men.