An unemployed single mother who stole five items to the value of R579 from a store in the Mall of Africa was sentenced to ten days imprisonment.
Ntobizodwa Dlamini made her first court appearance on 9 October at the Midrand Branch Court.
Addressing the court, prosecutor Mashudu Mutshaeni said the accused was arrested on 7 October, after five stolen items were found in her possession at the Mr Price store in the mall. Among the stolen items were two skinny jeans.
Dlamini pleaded guilty from the onset. Her defence attorney asked the court to have mercy in sentencing Dlamini. The attorney pointed out that there was no actual loss for the store as the stolen items were recovered.
In mitigation, the attorney pointed out that the 32-year-old single mother of three was unemployed. Her source of income was social grants.
The attorney also told the court the complainants in the matter took the law into their own hands. Dlamini was allegedly assaulted by two staff members of the store and the security.
Dlamini was sentenced to ten days imprisonment or a fine of R500, wholly suspended for three years.
Delivering the sentence, the magistrate said shoplifting left stores with a huge economic loss. The magistrate also noted that pleading guilty to the charge was a sign of remorse from the accused.
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