SIX Zimbabweans, all suspected armed robbers, this morning escaped from police custody after their allegedly accomplices engaged in a shoot-out with South African police to free them in an incident which occurred outside Louis Trichardt, some 120 kilometres south of Beitbridge.
The six identified as Forward Shumba, 26, Shingirai Nyandome, 32, Brilliant Sibanda, 26, Erick Sithole, 35, Moses Zambara, 32 and Alex Nkomo, 35, all awaiting trial prisoners, were being transported by police when their accomplices launched the daring attack.
The gang, driving a grey Mercedes Benz vehicle and a white Toyota pickup truck, then whisked away the suspects after overpowering police in a shootout that ensued during the escape, the South African Police Services (SAPS) said in a statement.
"The Police in Makhado have launched a massive manhunt for a group of heavily armed suspects who attacked and shot at Police members transporting six awaiting trial prisoners and managed to free them this morning, Monday 13 March 2023. The suspects thereafter took the six prisoners and sped off in a grey Mercedes Benz and a white Toyota Bakkie."
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"The incident happened along the Vivo road next to the first Schoemansdal turnoff outside Louis Trichardt. The prisoners managed to escape during the attack," Limpopo Province Police spokesman Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said.
All escapees were Zimbabwean nationals, he said.
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