Johannesburg - Convicted serial rapist and murderer Lungisani Innocent Mdlolo, who escaped from court hours before being sentenced on Tuesday morning, has been spotted in Soweto.
On Wednesday, two reliable sources confirmed this to The Star.
One source said the investigating officer had visited the locations where Mdlolo was allegedly spotted.
“The investigating officer went to the place but couldn’t find him. We suspect he is still hiding in those areas,” said the source, adding that the detective was working closely with a task team that had been appointed to track down Mdlolo.
Another source said the man had been spotted in two different areas in Soweto.
Mdlolo escaped on Tuesday morning through the main entrance of the high court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, a few hours before Judge George Maluleke was due to sentence him.
He was convicted in October of murder, three counts of rape, five of armed robbery, 10 of housebreaking and theft, possession of an unlicensed firearm and pointing of a firearm.
He was acquitted on three kidnapping charges.
Dubbed “One Man”, Mdlolo was not in leg-irons when he escaped.
Speaking shortly after the incident, a court source said they found it strange that all the accused who were expected to appear in court 12 were shackled, except Mdlolo.
On Wednesday, the source said police officers had visited the court to conduct interviews with some of the court orderlies.
He said the staff were still left with several unanswered questions. For instance, why was Mdlolo taken to court 12’s holding cells earlier than usual, the staffer wondered.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that a team of detectives had been set up to investigate the 31-year-old’s escape.
The police are offering a reward for information leading to Mdlolo’s arrest.
Spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the team were working closely with their KwaZulu-Natal counterparts, who had also been briefed to join the manhunt.
He said a case of assisting a prisoner to escape from custody was being investigated.
“As part of a continuing investigation, police management are viewing the CCTV footage. More security measures are being taken to prevent a similar situation,” said Dlamini.
The Star