MBOMBELA – Four prisoners caused havoc in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court during an attempted escape on Wednesday. A court orderly was injured and immediately transported to the hospital.
Three of the prisoners were arrested and charged with assault and attempted escape. The fourth suspect is still at large.
The men’s escape was launched in the underground tunnels which connect the court’s holding cells with that of the police station. They reportedly overpowered a court orderly who was escorting them to their holding cells. The four men ran away and scattered in different directions.
The first suspect was spotted in a district courtroom on the ground floor. Eyewitnesses relayed that he ran from the underground tunnel up the stairs to find himself in the courtroom. He dashed for the door and escaped. He has been identified as Mr Mthobisi Lenox Ngwenyama, who stands accused of poaching the subadult rhino bull named Sabi from his boma in Care for Wild Africa wildlife rehabilitation centre last year. Ngwenyama also faces charges of robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances and housebreaking.
Employees and members of the public were startled when two other suspects burst into the Sexual Offences Court. Court orderlies, WO Nelson Mnisi and WO Elvis Mnisi’s swift reaction restrained the two. Mr Jimmy Mkhabela, who stands trial on various rape charges and has been linked to violent robberies in White River, was grabbed from behind by Elvis. Mkhabela kicked and screamed in an effort to break free from his grip. When this did not work, he grabbed a pen from one of the court seats and stabbed Elvis in the head.
Eyewitnesses reported that his head bled profusely and he was rushed to hospital. At the same time, the other suspect tried to break the courtroom’s door that connected the room with the rest of the building. Criminal Court clerk Mr Siyabonga Thubela managed to keep the courtroom’s door closed although the suspects kicked at it in an attempt to open it. “This same suspect then ran to the window – he wanted to jump from the window when Nelson grabbed him and restrained him,” an eyewitness relayed. “These two court were heroes yesterday,” the eyewitness said.
A fourth suspect was arrested when he ran into the regional courtroom on the third floor. He was stopped by court orderlies and placed under arrest. Ngwenyama is still at large and has been described as very dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is requested to contact WO Mogale on 082-462-1385.
