New information that surfaced after three men escaped from the holding cells at the Morgenzon Police Station, has raised fears that they might have received help from someone inside the station or took advantage of someone’s negligence.

Siyabonga Elvis Mlangeni, Mbekezeli Given Nkosi and Nkosinathi Sidwell escaped sometime between 21:05 on February 15 and 05:05 on February 16.

Mlangeni and Mahlangu have since been rearrested. Nkosi is still being sought.

Sergeant Paulos Nzimande, the Morgenzon police spokesperson, said four saw blades, not a steel bar as was initially reported, were used in the escape.

The escape itself involved sawing through a cell door and a second fortified door with bars to get out of the police cells. The suspects then fashioned makeshift steps from torn strips of cloth to facilitate their climb up to the outer metal mesh enclosing the area outside the door.

They then had to also cut a hole to get up on the roof and escape down from it at another spot.

A community member who wishes to remain anonymous, drawing from past visits to the police cells, raised questions about the state of the solid steel door that closes onto the barred door at the cell from which the men escaped.

Allegedly, the door showed no signs of damage, implying that it may have been left open due to negligence or intentionally, by someone inside the facility.

Additionally, it has been disclosed that load-shedding had occurred during the escape, potentially aiding the fugitives by providing a cloak of darkness.

When questioned about the presence of a generator at the station, Nzimande revealed that although they do have one, it was out of commission.

Highvelder asked Nzimande about the allegation of the solid steel door being undamaged, whether the generator has been fixed and when the two suspects who have been recaptured will reappear for their bail application.

No response had been received by the time of going to press.