LIMPOPO, South Africa – Five of the seven escapees from a police station’s holding cells in Modimolle, in South Africa’s Limpopo province, have been identified as Zimbabweans.
South African police are hunting the escapees, who were being held on various charges including rape, armed robbery and possession of explosives.
The prisoners escaped from police holding cells at 8PM on Saturday during what police described as a “routine service by police members.”
“The circumstances around this escaping incident is a subject of the ongoing police investigations,” a police statement said.
Sello Rengane, 35, a South African national, was being held for rape while his compatriot Thapelo Mello, 24, was being held for possession of explosives.
The other escapes – Kenneth Shuma, 30, Mpho Obvious Lesese, 32, Themba Ncube, 36, Polano Ndebele, 27, Kazen Dluwayo, 33, were named as Zimbabweans by the Bulawayo Chronicle, citing Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe.
Ndebele and Ncube were due in court for possession of explosives; Shuma and Lesese had been arrested for armed robbery, Dluwayo was awaiting a court date for house robbery.
Anyone with information that can lead to the re-arrest of these escapees is requested to contact Captain Richard Boshomane at +2779 894 5501 or Crime Stop on 0860010111 or the Crime Line SMS 32211 or the nearest police station.
