Empangeni magistrate's court officials and people in the public gallery fled in panic on Wednesday during a dramatic shootout in a holding area below one of the courtrooms when an awaiting-trial prisoner disarmed a police officer and tried to make a dash for freedom.
The man, being held for last month's Tusk Umfolozi Casino robbery in Empangeni, is believed to have killed himself during the gun battle.
He appeared to have died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Incredibly, nobody else was killed or injured in the shoot-out between Isaac Mbehevu, of Gauteng, and three police officers.
The incident caused pandemonium in the court building in Empangeni's main Union Street. Shocked officials and members of the public later told how they had dashed for cover as gunfire echoed through the courthouse.
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The chaos erupted when Mbehevu, from Soweto, and two other awaiting-trial prisoners were about to be taken into district courtroom B after being transported to the magistrate's court from Empangeni Prison.
Police said Mbehevu had disarmed a court orderly, Inspector Prosper Mdletshe.
A shoot-out followed between Mbehevu and two other inspectors and a sergeant, with 9mm bullets flying in all directions in the court.
It appeared Mbehevu intended making his getaway up the courtroom stairwell.
A total of 35 shots were reportedly fired in the corridor below the court.
Mbehevu was hit once in the thigh and there was also a bullet exit wound through the top of his head. A post mortem examination will determine whether he shot himself.
Bullets struck a number of the cement steps leading up to the court, which was not yet in session, and at least one appeared to have ricocheted, penetrating a wooden partition between the dock and the public gallery and landing on a bench.
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