Johannessburg - Two court orderlies have been suspended and charges were laid against them after six suspects escaped from the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on their watch.
“Apparently the cell was not properly locked and they managed to escape,” said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dla-mini, adding that the police were searching for them.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon when five of the men were in court to face robbery charges and one a rape charge.
“Two of the officers have been served with a notice of suspension and we opened a case against them,” he said.
According to a report in the Boksburg Advertiser, three of the suspects, Fanie Hela, Sipho Ngwenya and Siphamandla Dlamini, had been arrested for robbing a Fashion World store.
The report stated that the three were also wanted for other serious crimes in Benoni, Jeppe in Joburg, and Durban. They were being investigated for several counts of murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, rape and assault.
Daring escapes from court holding cells have become a regular occurrence. In March, three dangerous suspects escaped from the Protea Magistrate’s Court in Soweto.
Sabelo Mthimkhulu, Nicholas Shelembe and Akani Khoza were due to appear for armed robbery, housebreaking, rape and possession of unlicensed firearms, among other crimes.
In the same month, Kagiso Ledwaba escaped from the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, allegedly with the help of a court orderly. Ledwaba is connected to convicted criminal Radovan Krejcir.
He had been convicted of the murder of German sports car specialist Uwe Gemballa.
In February, four awaiting-trial prisoners escaped from a police van while they were being transported from Mogwase prison in North West to the Brits Magistrate’s Court.
In June last year, seven awaiting-trial prisoners escaped from the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court, while seven inmates escaped from Groenpunt Prison last May.
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The Star