Durban ‘Mercedes looter’ has a change of heart in court

Mbuso Moloi, dubbed the alleged ‘Mercedes’ Woolworths looter’ appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrates’ court on Thursday where he made an about turn on his guilty plea regarding charges related to the recent unrest and to driving a motor vehicle with false number plates. 

Moloi, 30, appeared in court after his matter was postponed when he indicated on record in court that he intended to plead guilty to the charges of public violence, theft, trespassing, and contravention of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2000. The latter charge was in relation to operating a motor vehicle with a number plate displaying a license number that is not applicable to the motor vehicle. 

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Kara said that his appearance related to the alleged looting of a Woolworths store in the Glenwood area on 12 July, during the recent acts of public violence that took place in Durban and other parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. 

A video of Moloi went viral on social media when he was filmed loading a basket of goods into a Mercedes Benz parked across the road from the looted Woolworths food store in Bulwer Road, in Glenwood. He was identified in the video and subsequently arrested. Moloi had earlier told the media that he had gone out to the shops with his sister to purchase sanitary towels and that he had picked up the goods outside the shop.

During his brief appearance on Wednesday Moloi advised the court that he will no longer be pleading guilty to the charges.

“Moloi will remain out on bail of R5 000. The state asked for reporting conditions to be added to his previous bail condition that he surrender his passport and not to leave the province of KwaZulu-Natal without consulting with the investigating officer,” Kara said.

“He must now also report to the Pinetown Police Station every Wednesday and Sunday, between 6am and 6pm,” she added.

The matter was postponed to 12 October 2021 for further investigation.