Zimbabwean maid flees SA with US$20 000 loot

MASVINGO – A woman from Masvingo working as a maid for a couple in Sunset Beach, Cape Town South Africa fled from that country recently after gaining access to her boss’ safe and stealing more than $25 000 in various currencies. 

Vonganai Ranganai (25) allegedly took £2 580, 5000 Euros, 80 000 Rands, 10 100 Russian Ruobles, and US$ 2 300 from the safe and proceeded to Ahmed Essop’s wife bedroom where she collected a Sony Digital camera and jewellery.

Ranganai who comes from Rujeko in Masvingo did not waste time after stealing the money, but rushed to collect her husband, Tichakunda Mangure (25) who worked in another part of South Africa and the two made off to Zimbabwe the same day.

Of that Police only managed to recover 225 Euros, 800 Rands, 100 Russian ruobles and a golden necklace. She appeared before Magistrate Oliver Mudzongachiso recently and she was refused bail after the Magistrate ruled that she was a flight risk.

Prosecutor Tafirei Tandirai told the court that Ranganai was employed as a house maid by Essop (64) in Crescent Sunset Beach in Cape Town.

It is the State case that Ranganai and her husband Mangure on September 20, 2013 hatched a plan to steal cash and property from the complainant’s safe while he was at work.

Ranganai took advantage of the complainant’s absence and opened the safe containing cash and jewellery.

Magistrate Mudzongachiso asked Ranganai where she got the secret number and she said Essop also left his safe keys lying around.

Ranganai then took the cash to his husband’s place of residence in Dunnon which is a nearby location. Ranganai and her husband then left for Zimbabwe with the complainant’s property on the same day.

Essop made a report to South African Police and the accused person and his accomplice were arrested in Zimbabwe on October 13, 2013 after a tip off.

Mudzongachiso denied granting Ranganai and Mangure bail because they are a flight risk since they had already fled from South Africa to evade arrest.

He further went on to say that both husband and wife were involved in the commission of the crime so granting them bail would tempt them to abscond, since there is nothing valuable for them to leave behind. Ranganai was further remanded. Masvingo Mirror