Six awaiting trial prisoners escaped from the Springs Police Station cells on Sunday evening.
The Springs police have launched a manhunt for the suspects who escaped from the police cells at about 9pm.
Lt Col Lungelo Dlamini, SAPS provincial spokesman, says the suspects were due to appear in Springs Magistrate Court on various charges including murder, possession of drugs, theft of copper cables and malicious damage to property.
The suspects, who were all being held in a single cell, allegedly overpowered one of the policemen on duty.
Dlamini says when the officer opened the cell door to hand over medication the men made their escape.
“The suspects tried to strangle the policeman, took the cell keys, opened the cell door and escaped,” says Dlamini.
An attempt to apprehend them failed as they ran in different directions but it is suspected that they are still in the East Rand area.
An internal investigation will be conducted to establish whether there was any negligence on the part of the police officers on duty on the night of the incident.
“If anyone is found to have been negligent, a criminal case of aiding the prisoners to escape will be registered and disciplinary actions will follow,” says Dlamini.
The detectives at the Springs police station have put together identi-kits of four of the suspects, no photos of the other two were available for reference, in the hopes that anyone who spots them will contact the police to ensure they are apprehended.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects can contact the investigating officer WO Blackie Swart on 079 694 3840 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 at all hours.
“Members of the public are warned not to confront these suspects as they are considered to be dangerous,” Dlamini concludes.
