News / Africa
Three dangerous prisoners escape from SA jail
09 Dec 2015 at 15:11hrs | Views
THREE dangerous awaiting trial prisoners are on the run after escaping from the Mthatha High Court on Monday.
Daily Sun reported that Dumisani Lwana (31), Thando Myendela (27) and Samuel Rhontsane (29) managed to get away but five other escaped prisoners were bust by the cops. It's still unclear how the eight managed to escape but security guards could only watch as they drove through a back gate in a SAPS van.
The shocked security staff said about 20 prisoners were waiting to be escorted into the court when there was a scuffle and police officers were overpowered by the eight, who made off with their van.
Back-up was called and the cops gave chase. They caught five of the prisoners less than a kilometre away at Mthatha Sports Field. Three of the five were appearing for the December 2013 murder of Elliotdale Police Station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbane, who was shot on her way home from work.
Phumzile Ngqayimbana (42) – a former warrant officer in Elliotdale and one of the three murder accused – was said to be one of the five bust at the sports field.
He and his co-accused were due to appear in court on 10 September last year, the same day cash-in-transit kingpin Sakhumzi Mvoko and his co-accused Yandisa Bila were shot dead while trying to escape.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed that five prisoners were re-arrested and would be charged with escaping custody on top of the charges ranging from murder to armed robbery they were already facing.
He asked the public to phone the cops or Warrant Officer Xolile Mdepha on 082 319 8754 if they have any information.
Daily Sun reported that Dumisani Lwana (31), Thando Myendela (27) and Samuel Rhontsane (29) managed to get away but five other escaped prisoners were bust by the cops. It's still unclear how the eight managed to escape but security guards could only watch as they drove through a back gate in a SAPS van.
The shocked security staff said about 20 prisoners were waiting to be escorted into the court when there was a scuffle and police officers were overpowered by the eight, who made off with their van.
Back-up was called and the cops gave chase. They caught five of the prisoners less than a kilometre away at Mthatha Sports Field. Three of the five were appearing for the December 2013 murder of Elliotdale Police Station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbane, who was shot on her way home from work.
Phumzile Ngqayimbana (42) – a former warrant officer in Elliotdale and one of the three murder accused – was said to be one of the five bust at the sports field.
He and his co-accused were due to appear in court on 10 September last year, the same day cash-in-transit kingpin Sakhumzi Mvoko and his co-accused Yandisa Bila were shot dead while trying to escape.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed that five prisoners were re-arrested and would be charged with escaping custody on top of the charges ranging from murder to armed robbery they were already facing.
He asked the public to phone the cops or Warrant Officer Xolile Mdepha on 082 319 8754 if they have any information.
Source - Dailly Sun
