THE police in Limpopo need assistance to locate dangerous escaped prisoners Fickson Motsepe (22) and Lucky Mokone (20), who escaped from the Marble Hall police holding cells on Saturday.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said Motsepe and Mokone were detained in Marble Hall on charges of murder and business robbery.
He said the two suspects, joined by a third suspect Elias Mashishi (29), allegedly overpowered two police officials on Saturday while receiving their breakfast.
“The suspects managed to disarm one of the officials who was stabbed with a sharp instrument in the shoulder.
“The suspects opened the cell gates and ran away. The police were alerted and a chase ensued. During the gun fight that inevitably followed, Mashishi was fatally wounded. The other two men managed to escape and are still at large.
One of the pursuing police officials was shot in the leg and is recuperating in hospital.
Anyone with information concerning Motsepe and Mokone’s whereabouts can contact 082 318 9861 or (013) 261 2171,” Mulaudzi said.
DA Limpopo caucus spokesperson Stephen Mbedzi said the DA would write to the provincial police commissioner, Lt Genl Fannie Masemola, to request urgent intervention concerning crime issues in the Marble Hall area.
Mbedzi said it had come to the DA’s attention that criminals had turned the area into their own personal “holiday resort” and they operated freely due to alleged lack of manpower and resources in Marble Hall.
“After we received the recent crime statistics that show a number of crimes skyrocketed, the DA finds it necessary for the police to start with their action plan to free the people of this area.
“If given the necessary resources and manpower, the DA believes that the police stations in the area will be able to detect more unreported crimes that continue to haunt the mining district of our province.
“With the population of Marble Hall and surrounding areas at approximately 124 000 against an active police force of 77 members, it would indicate that there is one police official for every 1 610 residents, which is clearly not enough, “Mbedzi said.
