Inmate killed after using toy gun in escape

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File photo

Published Jul 14, 2015

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Johannesburg - A toy gun in the hands of a convict led to a brazen prison escape which escalated into a deadly shootout.

The toy gun, which closely resembled a real firearm and was made by the inmate himself, sparked chaos at Losperfontein prison in Brits on Sunday.

North West police spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko told The Star on Monday that Floyd Mabena, who was serving a life sentence for a range of offences, including murder, robbery and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, had held officials at gunpoint.

He tied the pair up with tape, and undressed the warder and put on his uniform.

The warders, who were in fear of their lives, handed over the cell keys to the convict.

Dressed in the warder’s uniform, Mabena then used the toy gun to threaten a private security guard on the premises to hand over his bakkie, Ramaloko said.

After Mabena hijacked the security vehicle, he used it to flee the prison and drove towards Pretoria.

But the guard’s colleagues were quickly notified of the hijacking and convict’s escape, and a high-speed chase followed between Mabena and the guards.

While driving along the N4, the escapee pointed the toy gun at the guards.

They then retaliated with live ammunition and Mabena was shot and killed near the Ga-Rankuwa off-ramp, north of Pretoria.

Ramaloko said the security guards became aware that Mabena’s gun was a toy only after he was fatally wounded.

Cases of escape from custody and hijacking have been opened at Brits police station while a case of murder was opened at Akasia in Pretoria.

No injuries were reported.

Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Sarie Peens said Mabena made the gun himself, but it was still unclear what materials he used. “It was a home-made weapon that was made in prison,” she said.

An investigation is under way to determine how the convict got hold of the materials to make the toy gun.

“The emergency services tactical team is currently being deployed at the prison to ensure that everything is running smoothly,” Peens added.

Meanwhile, four of the five prisoners who escaped from the Hartbeespoort Dam police cells earlier this month are still on the run. Ramaloko said one was rearrested last week.

The men are facing a range of charges, including theft, stock theft and housebreaking.

Circumstances surrounding their escape are under investigation. North West acting provincial commissioner Major-General Jacob Tsumane said: “We are busy with an internal investigation into this matter.”

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The Star

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