An Alex man of 2nd Avenue, who was on parole, was recently sentenced by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to seven years and to 12 months, respectively, for attempted housebreaking and trespassing.
Kenny Mdluli’s (43) was paroled from a 12-year sentence for another housebreaking committed in 2010. His woes are now compounded as the Department of Justice and Correctional Services will likely reimpose the remainder of the previous sentence. Also, he will be recalled to court to answer for an additional housebreaking charge committed at a Riverclub home in October last year for which he was wanted after he was identified through fingerprints. He allegedly stole a laptop, gold bangle and R500 in cash and none of the stolen items was recovered.
Magistrate Renier Boshoff found Mdluli guilty of the offences which occurred at 3.30pm on 16 January at a 50-year-old female victim’s home in Morningside. The victim heard several rings on her doorbell and peeped through the door but ignored the person who she didn’t recognise. After a while, she heard footsteps on the roof, went out to check and saw Mdluli on top.
When she asked for his identity and what he wanted, Mdluli said he was looking for his ball. The victim threatened to call the police forcing him to jump down and run away. Security on patrol nearby was alerted, saw him running, chased and apprehended him. When asked why he was running and doing in the area, he claimed to be looking for his keys.
He was arrested. State prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri quashed Mdluli’s defence saying he failed to substantiate his presence at the home leading to the convictions which the magistrates ordered to run concurrently for seven years.
