Notorius Eastern Cape criminal killed in shootout with police

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Two of the Eastern Cape's most notorious criminals have been killed in a shoot-out with members of a task team escorting them to the Mthatha High Court.

Thirty-year-old Sakhumzi Mvoko and 32-year-old Yandisa Bhila, were due to make another appearance on 17 charges that include multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery.

Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela, says the pair were being brought from Kokstad maximum security prison to Mthatha.

He says it appears that they had contact with someone on the outside because when they arrived at court Bhila pretended to throw something into a rubbish bin where its believed a fire-arm had been hidden.

A policeman was disarmed in the process when a shootout ensued.

Fatyela says a policeman was injured in the shoot-out.

Mvoko was in the list of most wanted criminals in 2011, he was arrested, escaped and re-arrested on 2012.

He was also one of seven awaiting trial prisoners who shot and injured a warden during an escape from Mthatha prison in 2011.

Mvoko was sentenced to three years for the escape while awaiting trial on the other charges.