THE security company whose money and pistols were retrieved
by a Good Samaritan when its cash-in-transit vehicle was involved in a fatal
accident near Lupane has thanked the man who helped them.
Mr Mlondolozi Mpofu was the first person at the scene when
a Safeguard Security cash-in-transit vehicle that was headed towards Bulawayo
from Victoria Falls was involved in an accident on Wednesday last week and not
on Saturday as earlier reported. Mr Mpofu, who was driving to Hwange, retrieved
more than US$100 000 and three pistols and rushed one of the injured guards to
hospital.
He handed over the firearms to the police and the money to
the security company’s officials.
In a statement yesterday, Safeguard Security Bulawayo
managing director, Mr Warren King, thanked Mr Mpofu for the assistance he
rendered.
“We would like to
thank Mr Mlondolozi Mpofu, who witnessed the accident, for assisting our crew
while the ambulance and a Safeguard relief vehicle were on their way. Mr Mpofu
kindly transported one of the crew members to St Luke’s Hospital in Lupane
where he was treated and discharged. The other crew member was taken by
ambulance, together with the body of the deceased crew member, to the United
Bulawayo Hospitals where he too was treated and discharged,” Mr King said.
He said Safeguard management and staff convey their deepest
condolences to the family of the crewman who passed away and their thoughts and
prayers are with his family at this time.
Mr King said the crew commander and driver of the Safeguard
truck that was involved in the accident suffered only minor injuries.
“The truck involved in the accident was carrying a small
consignment for a private business.
“The accident is unfortunate and the loss of life
regretted.
“However, we are thankful that the two crew members who
survived the accident were not seriously injured,” he said.
Mr King did not give the exact amount of money that was
being transported but an impeccable security source said the company was
transporting US$100 000.
The money could have easily fallen into wrong hands had it
not been for Mr Mpofu’s honesty.
In an interview on Sunday, Mr Mpofu said after retrieving a
trapped security officer, he realised that there was a cash box and thought of
keeping it safe together with three pistols that were scattered in the bush.
He said some people who later attended the scene came
searching for the money as they knew that the vehicle might have been carrying
a lot of money.
Mr Mpofu said he gave the firearms to the police but
decided to wait for security officials to hand them the money.
He said although he had an opportunity to get away with the
money since he was the first to attend the scene, he valued saving life and
being honest.
“The most important thing was to save other people’s lives
before thinking of money. Secondly I was groomed in a family set up where honesty
is our core value.
“I gain nothing by stealing other people’s money. Whatever
l did was out of humanity and l regret none of my actions. I thank God that the
two guys survived.
“However, I am sorry that we couldn’t save the one who died
on the spot,” Mr Mpofu said. Chronicle
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