Marianne Merten
Seven members of People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) staged a lunchtime escape from the Cape High Court on Thursday but four, including alleged hitman Ebrahim Jenneker, were rearrested within 90 minutes .
The Mail & Guardian has reliably learned that this is the second time Jenneker tried to escape from custody. Last month’s attempt with Maansdorp brothers Ismail and Abdullah also appearing on Pagad related charges was foiled.
At the time of going to print, Abdullah Maansdorp was still on the run and Jenneker was receiving medical care while in police custody.
The three men are standing trial on more than 130 charges ranging from murder and theft to illegally possessing ammunition. Jenneker’s brother-in-law Anees Adams, who is facing a separate murder trial, was also rearrested.
The Cape High Court is currently in recess. The seven men were brought to court on Thursday for a legal consultation.
There were seven members of Pagad at court on Thursday. The vigilante group’s leader Abdus Salaam Ebrahim and its security chief Salie Abader were also at court but did not participate in the escape.
Police say the accused overpowered a police officer, took his service pistol and fled the building.
Near the court a private van was hijacked and used as a getaway car. Shortly after the escape dozens of police with weapons drawn flooded into nearby St George’s Mall and surrounding streets looking for the escapees, who evaded them.
Jenneker and Nasruddin Gamaldien were arrested in Crawford on the Cape Flats.
Adams and Moegamat Cornelissen were arrested in nearby Athlone after a shootout with police. Keys to their prison cells were found in a bag.
Provincial police spokesperson Denise Brand said “police are on full alert. We have all teams out.”
Adams and Cornelissen were brought to police serious violent crimes head office on Wednesday afternoon by a large contingent of police. Cornelissen was wearing a green headband with Arabic writing.
Pagad could not comment at the time of going to press.