Mpumalanga’s most-wanted suspect rearrested

Ngwenyama, an alleged poacher, robber and murderer, had been at large for two weeks after escaping from the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. It is believed during this time he shot and killed the detective who landed him in prison, Lowvelder reported.

On the day of his escape, Ngwenyama was facing charges of housebreaking, theft, robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The crimes were all allegedly committed in KaBokweni.

Ngwenyama and four other men were also arrested and charged for the poaching of Sabi, a rhino calf, in his boma in Care for Wild Africa in 2014. On Wednesday, May 13, Ngwenyama and three other prisoners overpowered a court orderly who was escorting them to the holding cells. They ran out of the building and made off in different directions. Three of the men were arrested shortly afterwards, but Ngwenyama disappeared.

A week later, the investigating officer in one of the cases against Ngwenyama was murdered. Constable Joseph Baloyi, 35, was shot seven times, and died in his vehicle at his house in KaBokweni late that afternoon. The suspect fled, but eyewitnesses provided the police with a description that fit that of Ngwenyama. It was presumed he escaped from the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court to hunt down Baloyi.

According to Hawks’ spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, an investigation revealed Ngwenyama had more names on his hit list, including members of the Hawks.

“We secured the safety of our unit’s members by increasing security measures,” he said. The Hawks’ all-out war on Ngwenyama ended when they arrested him on Wednesday morning. “He was alone in a house in the Hazyview area at the time of his arrest,” said Mulaudzi.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala reportedly claimed Ngwenyama was sleeping when the police broke the front door down. He then tried to hide in a closet and attempted to jump through a window before he was arrested. Community members reported seeing Ngwenyama arriving at the Pienaar Police Station at 5pm. Lowvelder approached Mohlala for confirmation of the details of the arrest, which he refused to give.

“I had a miscommunication with another journalist. That is where this information came from. I cannot comment on the case,” he said.

Mulaudzi refrained from providing any additional comments in the case and labelled Mohlala’s comments as “out of order”.

“The investigation is not complete. There are still some things outstanding, and providing any additional information may jeopardise the police’s case,” he said. Ngwenyama was due to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

– Caxton News Service