July 25, 09:00
LIMPOPO – Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo has confirmed to Review that three men, who previously escaped from police custody, have been re-arrested.
Mojapelo, said two Zimbabwean nationals and the South African were re-arrested.
“Dennis Hove (pictured) is still at large and the search continues,” he added.
Mojapelo said the men will now also face several cases of armed robberies and possession of illegal firearms that were reportedly committed along the N1 road under the Bela-Bela, Modimolle, Mookgopong and Mokopane policing areas as they targeted motorists.
“One of the escapees allegedly shot at the police when he was spotted. The police returned fire and when searching the area, the suspect was found injured in a tree. He was immediately arrested, while the other two suspects were arrested in the vicinity,” he concluded.
The provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, commended the work of all those involved.
“We commend all role-players who participated in this operation that led to the apprehension of these criminals and also thank community members for their continued support,” concluded Hadebe.
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July 24, 17:30
LIMPOPO – Three of the prisoners who escaped from police custody outside Polokwane on Wednesday, July 21 have been re-arrested, according to information received from AfriForum provincial safety coordinator, Andries Opperman.
Review reported on Thursday (July 22) that police in Polokwane released the names and photos of the four men.
Also read: Be on the lookout for these four escaped prisoners
Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo at the time said the four escaped men were among seven prisoners who were being transported from Polokwane Correctional Centre to Mokopane for sentencing.
The escaped prisoners were identified as Zimbabwean nationals John Fine (39), Dennis Hove (39), Clifford Matonhori (31) and South African Figos Madisha (40).
Mojapelo said the said suspects were arrested for a crime committed in the Mokopane policing area in April 2019.
“They have been convicted for robbery with aggravating circumstances and were to be sentenced on Friday, July 23.”
Opperman, in a post on AfriForum Nylstroom‘s Facebook group, said they reportedly escaped after the police officer on duty bought them cooldrinks at a store along the R101.
“Close circuit television footage shows how the police member opens the police van and is subsequently overpowered,” he explained.
Mojapelo at the time said they managed to grab the officer’s service pistol. A manhunt was then launched for the four men.
“Various role-players such as AfriForum Pietersburg, AfriForum Potgietersrus, the police, community policing forums and the heritage protection group were involved in the search operation. Three of the men reportedly hijacked a truck on the N1 near the trading store on Wednesday night (July 22),” Opperman explained.
He said AfriForum Potgietersrus were notified by the driver’s panic button and decided to wait for the truck as it enters Mokopane. “Unfortunately, according to the driver, they got off the truck at Ysterberg before the truck reached town. The three, once again with another hijacked truck, hit the barrier at the Kranskop Plaza at midnight last night. They fled on foot,” Opperman said.
He added that another search operation was launched which included more security companies and other AfriForum branches. “The three were caught in the Eersbewoond area, while the fourth suspect is still on the run,” Opperman said.
Opperman told Review that the service pistol has also been recovered.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the three Zimbabwean nationals were arrested and that the South African is still on the run.
Police sources are yet to confirm this information.
