Durban - Police are on the trail of three awaiting trial detainees who have escaped from the Dundee correctional unit.
Richard Niyongalo Frank, a Congolese national who resided in Durban, Jabu Ncube from Alexandra in Gauteng, and Themba Ndlovu, from Dobsonville, also in Gauteng, escaped at about 2.30 on Tuesday afternoon.
KZN correctional services spokesman, Thulani Mdluli, said the trio had escaped during visiting hour, but could not say how they had fled before a preliminary investigation was completed.
The detainees were awaiting the finalisation of court cases against them in the small northern KwaZulu-Natal town.
Frank, 32, was on trial for aggressive robbery, five charges of assault and four of kidnapping. Ncube, 31, and Ndlovu, 40, were facing separate cases of aggressive robbery. Mdluli said they had not known each other, but shared a cell at the 13-cell unit before making their escape during visiting time.
“At the moment they are at large. The Department of Correctional Services appeals to anyone who may have information that could lead to the arrest of these remand detainees to come forward,” Mdluli said.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed that Dundee police were investigating a case of escaping from lawful custody.
Daily News