Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has called on the police to urgently bring to book six suspects who escaped from Hazyview Police Station on Saturday, 6 July 2014.
The MEC has further urged police management to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the escape of the suspects with a view of ensuring that such incidences are not repeated as they endanger the lives of innocent people.
“Laxity cannot be accepted when police are dealing with dangerous suspects as this does not only compromise the image of the police, it also affect community’s faith in the police to deal with dangerous criminals,” the MEC said.
The MEC added that when handling crime suspects, police need to be more vigilant and not only protect themselves but also protect their lives and that of other law abiding citizens.
“When crime suspects escape from police custody, it is not only the communities’ safety that becomes compromised but also the surviving victims of the actions of those suspects are also at stake,” he said.
It is reported that the six escaped when police officials were serving food to awaiting trial prisoners through the security grill door. In the process, the six forcefully took the cell keys then opened the cell door.
Shongwe has further called on members of the public to assist the police with the information that may lead to the successful arrest of the six.
