Police are searching for six murder and rape suspects who escaped from Lydenburg police station.
Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images
- Six murder and rape suspects escaped from Lydenburg police station.
- Officers investigating a water leak found structural damage and realised the prisoners had fled.
- Police launched a manhunt for the escapees and opened an investigation into security failures.
Police have launched a manhunt after six murder and rape accused escaped from the Lydenburg police station in Mpumalanga in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It prompted a major security investigation into how the prisoners managed to break out of their holding cell.
The escape was discovered during an inspection at approximately 02:30, when officers noticed a leaking water pipe outside one of the holding cells. What initially appeared to be a minor maintenance issue quickly revealed a far more serious security breach.
“Upon further inspection, the police discovered a hole in the wall. Members also established that there was structural damage and the six suspects had escaped,” read a statement from Mpumalanga’s police commissioner’s spokesperson, Mpho Nonyane-Mpe.
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The escapees have been identified as Fana Fenyane, Isaac Malope, Sergio Mandoza, Francisco Vasco Maganja, France Malatjie and Clayton Flank.
“The suspects were arrested on various charges, including murder, rape, possession of an unlicenced firearm, as well as malicious damage to property,” the police statement read.
Clayton Frank, 37, one of the six accused who escaped from Lydenburg police station.
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Fana Fenyane, 38, one of the six accused who escaped from Lydenburg police station.
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The statement also indicated that a comprehensive investigation would be launched into the security failures that allowed the escape to occur.
In the statement, Mpumalanga’s acting police commissioner, Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, is quoted as saying: “A probe will be conducted to find out what actually led to the escape of the suspects.
“The suspects will be hunted down and brought back to where they belong.”
Francisco Vasco Maganja, 47, one of the six accused who escaped from Lydenburg police station.
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Sergio Lorenzo Mandoza, 34, one of the six accused who escaped from Lydenburg police station.
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Police made an urgent appeal to the public for information about the whereabouts of any of the escapees.
“Information can be reported via Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or send information via the MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential, and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” the statement said.
