Chaos as crowd flees court

PANDEMONIUM broke out at the Mthatha High Court yesterday.

Prisoners are believed to have stabbed two police officers and the Daily Dispatch spoke to several people who heard a gunshot.

Lawyers, prosecutors, workers and members of the general public ran for their lives. Some hid under desks and locked themselves in offices.

“Everyone was running for dear life. It was pandemonium,” said lawyer Simthebile Sibahle.

The drama began shortly after 3.30pm, as some suspects were about to be taken back to the Mthatha prison where they are being held.

“I’m not sure if the shooting was from the inmates or police,” said Sibahle. “But I saw a policeman with a bloody hand saying they were being shot at by inmates. We all ran out of the courtroom to the front gate.

“I never ran like that in my life.”

Sibahle said he was afraid the accused would emerge and shoot whoever they felt was in their way.

He said when they were outside the court building a police officer called for the National Intervention Unit.

“All the police officers, including correctional services officers who were escorting other inmates, cocked their firearms and we all ran out of the gates of the court premises.

“One shot was later heard,” said Sibahle, adding he was still traumatised by what happened.

Court staff also told the Dispatch of the chaos.

They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were afraid of being reprimanded by bosses for speaking to the media.

The staff spoke of how the building was cleared out when a shot was heard ringing through the corridors of the court.

“We locked ourselves in the offices and others were hiding under the desks. Some ran to the toilets,” said one staffer.

An advocate said when he saw people running, he joined and got out of the building as fast as he could.

By the time the Daily Dispatch arrived the dust had already settled and order restored.

All awaiting-trail prisoners had been moved to where they were being held. Police officers were at the court taking statements.

A police officer at the scene said two policemen were stabbed – a warrant officer and a sergeant – by two accused.

The accused were appearing in court on a number of charges including murder, attempted murder and armed robbery, among others.

“Police managed to corner them and put them back in the cell and load them into the van.”

The incident reportedly happened at the holding cells. None of the other detainees were involved or managed to get away.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela was late yesterday still trying to get information about what really happened at the court, and could not make any official comments.

Xolisa Songca, who was at court yesterday to testify in one of the cases, said she was scared.

“Police were taking cover and others were pointing firearms in all directions.

“Everybody was scared.

“Some policemen were shouting ‘we are under attack’.”

Songca, who was shaken by the incident, said some police officers were also hiding.

She said she was too scared to make even the slightest of movements. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za