Zelda Venter
Three highly dangerous criminals - two of whom previously escaped with the notorious heist kingpin Colin Chauke - made yet another daring escape on Friday from the Pretoria Regional Court holding cells.
Lassy Sibiya, Oupa Gaarekoe and Sipho (Killer) Nkuna escaped from custody at about 1.30pm from the cell next to court five. It was Sibiya and Nkuna's third escape from custody.
They were among the group who made a daring jailbreak together with heist mastermind Colin Chauke on December 5 1997 after holding a prison warden hostage with a handgun. They were re-arrested about a year later.
The men had also once before escaped during a court appearance. Police at the time said it took a lot of time and money to get them behind bars again.
Captain Hannah Conradie of the police anti-corruption unit said the three overpowered a policeman in the toilet of the court cells. They then locked him and a policewoman in the cell before taking their 9mm pistols from them.
Sibiya and Nkuna, who were in leg irons and handcuffs at the time, also took the keys from the police and unlocked their cuffs.
They fled unnoticed through the Schoeman Street entrance of the court, taking the weapons with them. According to Captain Conradie they were confronted by a policeman at the exit. They apparently pointed a firearm at him after which he did not stop them.
Captain Conradie said a car was hijacked minutes later in nearby Schubart Street.
The police are offering an award of R50 000 per accused for anyone who can give information that will lead to their arrest.
The three men were appearing in the regional court, facing 24 charges of fraud and armed robbery. Their co-accused are racing driver Willie Hepburn and Patience Maepa.
Police warned that the men were very dangerous. Anyone who has information on their whereabouts should contact Captain Conradie at 082 809 5323 or Inspector Lood Eerwee at 083 626 9132.