Wanted for ATM bombings, armed robberies and rape

MPUMALANGA police have circulated pictures of one of the province's most wanted "criminals" who has been on the run since escaping from a the Skukuza police station in the Kruger National Park on November 6 last year.

Douglas Mokgakane, 25, allegedly committed many crimes, including ATM bombings, armed robberies and rape while on the run.

He had been arrested with four others in Graskop on August 5 last year.

Mokgakane, Joel Nghilichi Ndlovu, 29, David Paku, 21, Sandile Matsane and Reuben Mathebula (both in their early 20s) were arrested after they were found in possession of two suspected stolen cars, unlicensed firearms, ammunition, cellphone vouchers, suspected stolen bank cards and many other illegal goods.

They had always been under heavy police guard when they appeared in courts around the Bushbuckridge area.

Mokgakane, Paku, Ndlovu and 19-year-old Lino Baloyi, who were arrested for trespassing in the Kruger National Park, escaped from the Skukuza police station in the early hours of Sunday on November 6 last year.

Nobody believed the escaped men would survive the wild animals but police later re-arrested Paku in Mahushu near Hazyview. He took them to Ndlovu's hiding place in Acornhoek, where he was also rearrested. Mokgakane again managed to evade being rearrested.

Police said Mokgakane found new buddies in crime and they were engaged in a crime spree that has left the Bushbuckridge community in fear over the past few weeks.

Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Hlathi said it was believed that Mokgakane and two of his new accomplices held a security guard at gunpoint, tied and forced him to knock at his employer's house in green Valley in Acornhoek near Bushbuckridge on February 6.

"On entering the house the suspects gang-raped the 40-year-old businesswoman and her 21-year-old daughter," Hlathi said yesterday.

"They then robbed them of cash, cigarettes and airtime vouchers before fleeing the scene in the victim's Toyota Fortuner.

The vehicle was later found abandoned in Thulamahashe about 35km away."

Paku, Matsane, Mathebula and Ndlovu are expected to to appear before the Mhala magistrate's court on March 21.

Hlathi said anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of Mokgakane and his accomplices must contact Warrant Officer Solly Modiba on 084-810-0893 or 013-795-8012 or Captain John Maredi on 082-462-1861.