Six awaiting trial detainees escaped from Siyabuswa police station holding cells, Mpumalanga police said on Monday.
Spokesperson Superintendent Abie Khoabane said the men escaped between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday.
”Upon investigations we discovered that suspects used an iron saw to cut the roof and left,” he said.
Khoabane said all suspects were charged with the murder of a police officer who was killed at Dullstroom, Siyabuswa, in November last year. They were Sabelo Mcala (19) Thabang Ramasetla (22) Kalvin Mohlomonyane (18) Thulane Magabe (25) and Collen Masemola (20) who is also charged with armed robbery. Dumisane Dlamini also escaped, and had previously been charged with house robbery and theft.
Khoabane said Ramasetla was re-arrested by the police on Sunday at about 5pm at Ga-Phahla outside Siyabuswa, after he was spotted by community members.
He said internal investigations were under way to establish how the saw was smuggled into the cells.
”The five are still at large, and the public is advised not to try and apprehend them as they are extremely dangerous.” – Sapa