Mpumalanga law enforcement authorities are using every resource at their disposal to track down and re-arrest two highly dangerous suspects who escaped from custody, on Tuesday.
Mpumalanga prison break: How did the suspects escape?
In a statement, police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi revealed that 24-year-old Sabelo Nkosi and Njabulo Nsibande, aged 27, “escaped at Gert Sibande District near Ermelo Correctional Centre.”
“They were being transported from Breyten Magistrate’s Court to the Correctional facility.,” the statement read.
It’s still unclear, at this stage, how the prisoners conjured up an escape en route. This, Brig. Hlathi said, is the subject of an internal investigation to establish if the pair were assisted by correctional officers.
“An internal investigation, that will look into how these suspects escaped, is underway,” he said.
What are the suspects in prison for?
Nkosi and Nsibande have been in held in custody since December 2016 for a number of heinous crimes.
“These offences include murder, attempted murder, two counts of rape as well as two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and were both on trial for the said charges,” Brig. Hlathi added.
At great risk are the witnesses who are working with the State to bring the duo to book. Police, however, would not be baited into confirming if protection has been offered to those who feel endangered by the prisoners’ escape.
Nkosi and Nsibande are considered highly dangerous fugitives who will take any and all necessary measures to avoid capture.
The public is advised to not take matters into their own hands if they encounter any of the suspects. The best recourse, in this case, is to contact authorities.
“Police urge members of the public including families of the suspects, to assist with information that may lead to their re-arrest. All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” Hlathi pleaded.