The police in Thohoyandou have arrested one of the most wanted criminals in the area, Ipfanne Netshifhefhe (22), of Ngovhela Village on Tuesday afternoon. He is linked with two murders, numerous attempted murders cases and four robberies.

Netshifhefhe was released on parole on December 22 last year, after serving three years of a four year sentence for the attempted murder of a policeman at Maniini Village in 2003. On the day of his release (December 22), he allegedly chopped a person to death at Ngovhela Village. He is also linked to an attempted murder at Phiphidi Village, a few days after his release.

Last weekend the body of a man was found lying along the Ngovhela-Thohoyandou road with multiple stab wounds in the head. It prompted the police to embark on a manhunt and they established a task team on Monday to look for the offender. Netshifhefhe was arrested in the Thohoyandou region on Tuesday after a tip-off from members of the public. According to the police he is always in possession of a panga or axe and police describe him as very dangerous to the community.

He appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and the case was postponed to a later date. He was not asked to plead.

* The police in the Mopani Area were at the time of going to the press still searching for five prisoners who escaped from custody. The incident took place at the Mhala Magistrates’ Court premises on Tuesday afternoon at about 12:30.

The escapees were in custody on charges of robbery, theft and housebreaking. They are described as extremely dangerous.

Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, the spokesperson for the police in the area, said the five, together with the other awaiting trial prisoners, were kept in the waiting cell at the magistrates’ office when the incident occurred. According to the police statement, it is alleged that a police officer forgot to lock the door of the cell. The absence of the five was discovered half an hour later.

The escaped prisoners are Cyril Sithlaku (22) of Cottondale Settlement, Diference Makhubela (19) of Timbavati settlement, Donald Khumalo (19) from Cottondale, Timothy Ngoveni (21) of Chabelagaza Village and Doctor Lukhele (25) also from Cottondale.

Three of them, Sithlaku, Khumalo and Lukhele were arrested for robbery.

The other two, Ngoveni and Makhubele were arrested for theft and housebreaking respectively.

In the statement, the police appealed to anyone who see them, not to try to apprehend them. Instead, they should contact the nearest police station or phone the police at Tel 0860 010 111.