The search is still on for two of the five awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped from the Mhlala Magistrates court cells last Tuesday afternoon.

According to the police spokesperson in the Mopani area, Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, it is alleged that the police officer who was in charge of the cell in which the prisoners were kept, left the cell door open.

According to the police statement, the mess was discovered when the police were taking stock of the prisoners at about 13:00. It was discovered that five of the awaiting-trial prisoners, Cyril Sithlaku (22) of Cottondale settlement, Timothy Ngoveni (21) of Chabelagaza village, Doctor Lukhele (25) of Cottondale settlement, Difference Makhubele (19) of Timbavati settlement and Donald Khumalo (19) also from Cottondale, were missing. The search for them started immediately after the discovery. One of them, Cyril Sithlaku, was rearrested a day after escaping.

The statement indicates that the other two, Difference Makhubele and Timothy Ngoveni, were captured at different places over the weekend. The search for the last two, Doctor Lukhele and Donald Khumalo, was still on at the time of going to press.

Lukhele and Khumalo were both arrested for robbery. In the statement, the police have indicated that they were investigating the police officer who was on duty in the cell during the incident. In the meantime, Supt Ngoepe also indicated that they were still searching for three of the eight prisoners who escaped from the Mhlala police cells early last year.

The eight prisoners had allegedly used a sharp instrument to cut open the roof of the exercising cell and escaped. Five of them were rearrested at different places some weeks after the incident. The three who are still at large are Nthando Mapganga (35), Hebert Mokoena (30) and Khulufelo Monareng (34), all from the Shanganhill settlement in the Bushbuckridge area.

They were all arrested for murder. The police have described the five runaway prisoners as extremely dangerous, saying anyone who sees any of them should inform the police instead of trying to apprehend them.