SANDF Soldier and Zimbabwean National Arrested for Helping Armed Robbery Suspects Escape
Two men, a South African soldier and a Zimbabwean national, have been arrested for their involvement in the escape of six armed robbery suspects in Musina, Limpopo Province. Kedibone Albert Langa (38), a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Thabani Sibanda (28) were both charged with attacking police and aiding the suspects’ escape. They appeared in court in Louis Trichardt and were remanded in custody until March 22.
According to Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, a spokesperson for the Limpopo Province South African Police Services (SAPS), Langa and Sibanda were among those who engaged in a shoot-out with SAPS officers in order to free the six robbery suspects. The suspects, Forward Shumba, Shingirai Nyandome, Brilliant Sibanda, Erick Sithole, Moses Zambara, and Alex Nkomo, were being transported by police when they were freed.
SANDF Soldier and Zimbabwean National Arrested for Helping Armed Robbery Suspects Escape [image; SAPS]
In a daring and brazen prison break, the two, together with other armed men, assisted six Zimbabwean prisoners to escape from custody in Makhado, leaving the South African Police Service (SAPS) on the hunt for the fugitives. The incident occurred on Monday, the 13th of March, 2022, when heavily armed suspects approached the police along the Vivo road next to the first Sxhoemansdal turnoff outside Louis Trichardt. The suspects fired gunshots at the cops guarding the six detainees who were about to go on trial.
After overpowering the cops, the armed men took the six prisoners and fled the scene in a grey Mercedes Benz and a white Toyota Bakkie, leaving the authorities scrambling to apprehend them.