Search on as 6 ‘dangerous’ prisoners break out
POLICE have launched a hunt for six men who escaped from Springs police station on Sunday. The six were set to appear in the Springs Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning – each on separate charges – and were being held at the police station before their court appearance.
It is understood that the lone constable guarding the six men had been handing out medication to one of the six at about 9.30pm when the group managed to overwhelm him.
“The escapees allegedly overpowered a police officer at the cell. As they were trying to strangle him, they took the cell keys, opened the cell door and escaped out of the police station.
“An attempt to apprehend them failed as they ran in different directions. The suspects are believed to be still in the East Rand area,” said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.
While police did take mugshots of four of the six men, the other two had not yet had their photo taken when they escaped.
Police have confirmed that two of the men, Teboho Makwate and Mombulelo Mjebo, had been charged with murder and two others, Mandla Makhulu Ngcobo and Sibusiso Motha, had been found in possession of drugs.
The remaining two men had been arrested for theft of copper cables and malicious damage to property.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts can contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Blackie Swart, at 079 694 3840 or contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 at all hours.
“Members of the public are warned not to confront these suspects as they are considered to be dangerous,” said Dlamini.
The SAPS has announced that an internal investigation is being conducted to establish whether there was any negligence on the part of the police officers on duty at the station which could have led to the escape.
“If anyone is found to have been negligent, a criminal case for aiding the prisoners to escape will be registered and disciplinary steps may follow,” said Dlamini.