Prisoner dies in hit in holding cell

An awaiting-trial prisoner was shot dead inside police holding cells in Mthatha by balaclavaclad gunmen on Monday in a suspected hit linked to the ongoing taxi wars.

The gang then threw the cell keys to the other prisoners in the Ngangelizwe police station, who chose to sit tight.

The 38-year-old victim, Simphiwe Maqungo, had been arrested for illegal possession of firearms in the Ngcobo area in July.

National police commissioner General Khehla John Sitole has given a multidisciplinary team 72 hours to come up with an action plan.

Two police constables from the station were attending to a complaint elsewhere when the gang struck just after midnight.

Two other police officers at the station were held at gunpoint while two of the attackers went to the holding cells, where shots were fired.

The incident comes only days after gunmen robbed the Kareedouw police station on August 4.

Nothing was taken in the Mthatha attack.

Four men armed with two pistols and two rifles entered the Community Service Centre (CSC) and ordered the two police officers present to lie on the floor, before tying their hands and demanding the cell and safe keys.

While two of the gunmen guarded the police officers, the other two went to the jail cells and shot Maqungo.

Police top brass descended on the scene after the shooting.

National police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said: “Two of the suspects proceeded to the holding cells and the [police] members heard several gunshots. The suspects then fled the scene.

“Upon investigation, it was found a person who was in custody had been fatally shot.

“He was arrested on July 29 for possession of firearms.”

After killing Maqungo, the gunmen threw the cell keys to the other prisoners, but they did not try to escape.

Muridili said the motive for the murder was still unknown.

But a police official, who declined to be named, confirmed that the killing was believed to be linked to taxi violence.

“This was a clear assassination and we are not totally sure why they wanted him dead. We suspect it is linked to the taxis,” the official said.

The provincial organised crime unit has taken over the case and is being assisted by the Hawks.

Police station commanders in Port Elizabeth were cautioned after the incident to be on high alert.

In February, five police officers were killed in an attack on the Ngcobo police station in the Eastern Cape.

Two were shot dead with guns that had been stolen from police officers in separate incidents in Cala and Butterworth.