THOHOYANDOU - Oupa Makhokha (32), who stands accused of two murders, caused a major drama at the police cells in Thohoyandou when he escaped from custody on Wednesday morning.

Makhokha and five other trial-awaiting prisoners, Mpho Nedombelani (21), Tshifhiwa Namana (24), Shumani Takalani (21) Rofhi Rathogwa (19) and the 24 year-old Awelani Phafha, escaped from the cells around 01:20. This happened after they overpowered two police officers.

The officers reacted to a cry for help from one of the suspects who pretended to have an asthma attack. Both of the officers were grievously assaulted and one was constrained with Makhokha’s handcuffs.

It is not clear how Makhokha managed to remove the handcuffs, and questions rose over the possibility of police involvement in the escape. However, the police spokesperson in the Vhembe-area, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, completely denies the allegations.

Makhokha and his 36-year old brother, Lucky, were arrested in May 2003 in relation with the murder of Norman Makatu, a policeman from Zamekomste. It is alleged that the brothers shot Makatu after he saw them hijacking a vehicle and followed them.

They would have appeared in the Thohoyandou High Court on the 30th of November this year to hear the verdict of that case. That did not happen because the Makhoka brothers were wrongly granted bail when they appeared in the Thohoyandou Regional Court on a lesser charge. They promptly paid the bail and disappeared.

On Monday, the 29th of November, Oupa Makhokha was apprehended by members of the Vhembe-area Flying Squad in Makhado, after a high-speed car chase. This follows a hijacking in Polokwane, the previous evening, where Mr Pieter du Plessis (57) was shot dead and Jurgens Potgieter (24) wounded. Mr Du Plessis’ red Corsa-bakkie was stolen in the hijacking.

The hijacked vehicle was tracked via satellite and appeared in Eltivillas on Monday. The Flying Squad reacted on this information and chased the bakkie. In an effort to shake the police off the hijackers led them on a high-speed chase through the streets of Makhado. On the Rissik Street/N1-crossing their vehicle went out of control, veered off the road and crashed into a lamppole. Oupa Makhokha was arrested at the scene, while Lucky was arrested at his parents’ home in Muduluni.

Police spokesperson Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi said on Wednesday that Lucky was not amongst the group that escaped that morning. He described Oupa as “very dangerous” and discouraged members of the public to try and apprehend him. At the time of going to press the police still had to establish the whereabouts of the six fugitives.