This morning at approximately 10:30am, five (5) suspects managed to escape from the Harrismith Magistrates court holding cells after shooting dead one policeman and wounding another before hijacking a woman motorist and fleeing.
The suspects, who were facing charges of armed robbery, overpowered a policeman escorting them from the holding cells into the court room and shot him in the head. They also shot a second policeman who came to investigate in the chest, before fleeing the court building. Once out in the street they stopped a female motorist and hijacked her Mercedes Benz vehicle. They held the female motorist hostage in the back seat while they sped off.
Police were mobilised and set about tracking the fugitives. Within an hour of the incident occurring police spotted the vehicle and gave chase. The suspect driving the hijacked vehicle lost control of the Mercedes Benz and crashed into a supermarket wall in Bluegumbush. The suspect who was driving the vehicle died at the scene and the other four suspects were arrested by police members. The female hostage was also injured in the collision and rushed to hospital. Two R5 weapons and one 9mm weapon that had been taken from the policemen were also recovered at the scene. The four injured suspects are presently under police guard receiving medical attention.
The police constable that was shot in the head passed away in hospital and the police warrant officer who was shot in the chest remains in a critical condition. At this stage the medical condition of the female hostage is still unknown.
The National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele who has attended the funeral of so many slain policemen and women has reiterated that police officials need to take precautions and use whatever legal means at their disposal to defend themselves and protect law abiding citizens.
Enquiries:
Captain Dennis Adriao National Spokesperson
Tel: 012400 6584
Cell: 082 828 5773
E-mail: adriaod@saps.org.za
Source: South African Police Service
