THE funeral of cash-in-transit heist kingpin Sakhumzi Mvoko, shot dead in an escape attempt outside the Mthatha High Court last week, will be under heavy police guard.
Mvoko, 30, and a co-accused, Yandisa Bila, 32, who were armed, were both killed in a shoot-out with the police national intervention unit and Department of Correctional Services officers (DCS) on Wednesday last week.
Both serial escapees, who had been held at the Kokstad C-Max prison, were serving jail time for an assortment of charges including murder, bank robbery and the illegal possession of firearms over the past decade.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said officers from all “relevant” units would patrol the areas surrounding the site of the funeral proceedings.
He said police would not tolerate any lawlessness and perpetrators of any wrongdoing would be brought to book.
“Police will act should anything illegal transpire. We don’t anticipate any chaos but we will monitor the funeral,” said Fatyela.
Following last week’s shooting, Madeira police have opened an inquest docket.
A separate investigation of the planted gun was also underway.
The DCS has been criticised for compromising the safety of other inmates by failing to handcuff the two dangerous men.
DCS regional commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said it was difficult to comment fully on the apparent breach of security systems as the matter was being handled by his counterpart in KwaZulu-Natal.
He said the two prisoners had been under constant guard at the time.
“Because they were a high risk after escaping several times, we never took the matter lightly,” he said.
It was “cruel” to handcuff prisoners to an extent where they could not move – such as preventing a prisoner from wiping his nose.
Mvoko will be buried at his mother’s home in Zimbane Valley, near Mthatha, tomorrow. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Police will monitor Mvoko’s funeral
Mvoko, 30, and a co-accused, Yandisa Bila, 32, who were armed, were both killed in a shoot-out with the police national intervention unit and Department of Correctional Services officers (DCS) on Wednesday last week.
Both serial escapees, who had been held at the Kokstad C-Max prison, were serving jail time for an assortment of charges including murder, bank robbery and the illegal possession of firearms over the past decade.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said officers from all “relevant” units would patrol the areas surrounding the site of the funeral proceedings.
He said police would not tolerate any lawlessness and perpetrators of any wrongdoing would be brought to book.
“Police will act should anything illegal transpire. We don’t anticipate any chaos but we will monitor the funeral,” said Fatyela.
Following last week’s shooting, Madeira police have opened an inquest docket.
A separate investigation of the planted gun was also underway.
The DCS has been criticised for compromising the safety of other inmates by failing to handcuff the two dangerous men.
DCS regional commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said it was difficult to comment fully on the apparent breach of security systems as the matter was being handled by his counterpart in KwaZulu-Natal.
He said the two prisoners had been under constant guard at the time.
“Because they were a high risk after escaping several times, we never took the matter lightly,” he said.
It was “cruel” to handcuff prisoners to an extent where they could not move – such as preventing a prisoner from wiping his nose.
Mvoko will be buried at his mother’s home in Zimbane Valley, near Mthatha, tomorrow. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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