The Gauteng Police in South Africa has launched a massive manhunt for a total of 20 escaped inmates.
According to the police, the prisoners, all awaiting trial escaped from the security agency while they were being transported to the Johannesburg prison‚ known as Sun City.
The prisoners were reported to have escaped after hearing at the Johannesburg Magistrate Court on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement released by the provincial spokesperson, Colonel Lungelo Dlamini‚ one of the prisoners had already been sentenced to 17 years in prison after he was convicted for an armed robbery.
The statement added: “The prisoners escaped after a truck was ambushed at Pat Mbatha Road near South Gate train station by a group of men armed with rifles. A truck door lock was broken before the prisoners escaped.
“They were awaiting trial prisoners charged with various crimes including armed robbery‚ housebreaking and theft and possession of drugs. Police officers were not injured.”
The names of the escaped prisoner are:
Moffatview CAS 366/08/2916 (Theft) Roland Barnald,
Hillbrow CAS 577/03/2016 (Robbery) Bongumusa Ngubane,
Parkview CAS 197/02/2017 (House breaking) David Sithole & Innocent Masango,
Sophiatown CAS 500/03/2017 (Robbery) Kingley Jooste,
Sophiatown CAS 508/09/2015 (Culpable homicide) Mark Kappie Hunter,
JHB central CAS 1369/01/2017 (Robbery) Vincent Vardala & Justice Dlamini,
JHB central CAS 571/06/2017 (Possession of drugs) Mgaya Mbwana & Ayubi Mahoro Ibrahim,
JHB central CAS 1403/09/2016 (Murder) Sabelo Mbajwa,
Jeppe CAS 800/10/2015 (Murder) Jimmy Da Silva,
Protea Glen CAS 149/01/2017 (Robbery) Nkosana Thotobolo & Mnyanezeni Shabangu,
Cleveland CAS 149/12/2015 (Murder) Kebi Kodugure,
Sandringham CAS 139/04/2017(H/breaking) Simthembile Mari.
Sophiatown CAS 429/04/2017 (Attempted murder) Ginondine Sandel
JHB central CAS 355/01/2017 (Robbery & poss of firearm) Michael Nkabinde – Sentenced today to 9 months imprisonment
Booysens CAS 70/11/2011(Robbery & poss) Sentenced today 17 years imprisonment Mpho Chipo.
Parkview CAS 12/08/2015 (Theft of M/V) Rushden Katz