Mpumalanga jailbreak ‘no threat to Gardee case’

THE escape of nine alleged armed robbers, thieves and attempted murderers from police custody in Mpumalanga will in no way compromise justice in the Hillary Gardee murder case.

Yesterday, provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala confirmed that police had launched a manhunt for the nine suspects, who escaped from Badplaas.

“Police have opened dockets of escape from custody against the nine men. They escaped at Badplaas police station on Tuesday around 5pm and only one was rearrested on Wednesday morning,” Mohlala said. He would not provide details on how they escaped.

“The circumstances surrounding their escape are still being investigated but it is suspected that they cut through the roof,” he said.

It is not the first time that Badplaas police station is in the news for the wrong reasons. In September 2020, armed robbers stormed the station, held officers hostage and robbed them of three firearms and ammunition.

The suspects were later arrested following the involvement of the Hawks.

Despite several police stations in Mpumalanga having been robbed at gunpoint in the past or having suspects escape from custody, law enforcement authorities said they were confident other cases such as the Gardee one will not face similar challenges.

According to Lirandzu Themba, spokesperson for Police Minister Bheki Cele, there was no possibility of Gardee’s alleged murderers escaping custody from the Nelspruit police station.

“Minister Cele is aware of the escape of prisoners (and) has full confidence in Mpumalanga police.”