A young woman reportedly on the run for two weeks stood in a court dock yesterday for allegedly aiding in the failed escape of two notorious criminals.
Cash-in-transit heist kingpin Sakhumzi Mvoko and Yandisa Bila were killed in a shootout at the Mthatha High Court two weeks ago while trying to escape.
It is alleged that a handgun had been planted in a dustbin at the court, which the deceased used.
An exchange of gunfire ensued with more than 20 national intervention unit members and Department of Correctional Services (DCS) officers.
Police believed the firearm may have been planted the day before, but this was done too late as Mvoko and Bila had already left the court.
On Wednesday, a team of detectives at the Madeira police station arrested Bila’s 24-year-old sister Avela for allegedly helping in the failed escape.
She faces charges of aiding the prisoners to escape and defeating the ends of justice.
Avela was arrested at her home in Godini locality outside Ngqeleni.
Wearing a khaki beanie, brown hooded jacket, black leggings and green casual shoes, Avela made her first appearance before Anele Maqolo at the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The gallery was packed with a group of mainly female relatives, her mother and ordinary people with a keen interest in the case.
Earlier in the day, Avela’s elderly mother snapped and shouted at police investigators who asked her to persuade her daughter to point out the whereabouts of an alleged accomplice who organised the gun.
“Don’t ask me questions. I am in mourning and I am not the one arrested. Maybe you are the type of parent whose children will never be killed by police or be arrested,” Bila’s mother said.
She was led out of court and returned later looking calmer.
Prosecutor Simthembile Mtengwane read out the charges to a carefree Avela.
The prosecution wanted Avela kept behind bars to give police time to complete her profile and arrest the second suspect.
Defence attorney Unathi Ximbi, who had represented Yandisa and Mvoko, argued that any further incarceration of Avela would violate her constitutional right to “liberty”.
Ximbi called on Maqolo to release his client, arguing she had no previous or pending cases against her and had a “solemn” duty to attend her brother’s funeral on Saturday in Godini locality.
But Maqolo postponed the matter to September 30 for a formal bail application and ruled that Avela remain in custody. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Mvoko gun in bin twist
Cash-in-transit heist kingpin Sakhumzi Mvoko and Yandisa Bila were killed in a shootout at the Mthatha High Court two weeks ago while trying to escape.
It is alleged that a handgun had been planted in a dustbin at the court, which the deceased used.
An exchange of gunfire ensued with more than 20 national intervention unit members and Department of Correctional Services (DCS) officers.
Police believed the firearm may have been planted the day before, but this was done too late as Mvoko and Bila had already left the court.
On Wednesday, a team of detectives at the Madeira police station arrested Bila’s 24-year-old sister Avela for allegedly helping in the failed escape.
She faces charges of aiding the prisoners to escape and defeating the ends of justice.
Avela was arrested at her home in Godini locality outside Ngqeleni.
Wearing a khaki beanie, brown hooded jacket, black leggings and green casual shoes, Avela made her first appearance before Anele Maqolo at the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The gallery was packed with a group of mainly female relatives, her mother and ordinary people with a keen interest in the case.
Earlier in the day, Avela’s elderly mother snapped and shouted at police investigators who asked her to persuade her daughter to point out the whereabouts of an alleged accomplice who organised the gun.
“Don’t ask me questions. I am in mourning and I am not the one arrested. Maybe you are the type of parent whose children will never be killed by police or be arrested,” Bila’s mother said.
She was led out of court and returned later looking calmer.
Prosecutor Simthembile Mtengwane read out the charges to a carefree Avela.
The prosecution wanted Avela kept behind bars to give police time to complete her profile and arrest the second suspect.
Defence attorney Unathi Ximbi, who had represented Yandisa and Mvoko, argued that any further incarceration of Avela would violate her constitutional right to “liberty”.
Ximbi called on Maqolo to release his client, arguing she had no previous or pending cases against her and had a “solemn” duty to attend her brother’s funeral on Saturday in Godini locality.
But Maqolo postponed the matter to September 30 for a formal bail application and ruled that Avela remain in custody. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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