Suspect was being transported by car for his trial, but he was not handcuffed and had a knife on him
A rape suspect attacked two policemen near Storms River while they were driving him to George, before escaping, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.
“[The suspect], Lungani Gobodo, was not handcuffed while seated at the back of the detective’s vehicle, a BMW, and that’s what we are investigating,” spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.
Warrant officers Chris Wolhuter and Vernon Sparks, from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in George picked Gobodo up from St Alban’s prison in Port Elizabeth on Monday afternoon.
He was due to appear before the George Regional Court on Tuesday for a rape committed in the area in May 2009.
Gobodo drew a knife and allegedly stabbed Wolhuter in the neck and shoulder.
He then held the knife to Sparks’ throat, the driver, and threatened to stab him if he did not turn the car around.
He ordered Sparks to drive to Uitenhage.
“At about 4.10pm the suspect got off near a taxi rank in Uitenhage and disappeared among the taxis... Sparks went to a cafe nearby and requested assistance,” Naidu said.
Wolhuter was taken to Cuyler Hospital in a stable condition.
“It is not known how Gobodo had a knife and why he was not handcuffed... there is a departmental investigation into that now.”
Gobodo was also due to stand trial for a murder which took place in Kwazakele. He was found guilty in 2005 for possession of an unlicensed firearm in the same area. In 2009 he was found guilty of house-breaking in Thembalethu in George.
“He goes by different names like Lungani, Shonti, Xoliswa, Frank, Mtz, Ta, Hlongwana and Hlongwane and that’s why he is still pending trial for some of these crimes... but we are still investigating all these charges.”
Anyone who knew Gobodo’s whereabouts could contact their local police station or the Uitenhage police on 041-996-3438.
Rape suspect attacks police, escapes
Suspect was being transported by car for his trial, but he was not handcuffed and had a knife on him
A rape suspect attacked two policemen near Storms River while they were driving him to George, before escaping, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.
“[The suspect], Lungani Gobodo, was not handcuffed while seated at the back of the detective’s vehicle, a BMW, and that’s what we are investigating,” spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.
Warrant officers Chris Wolhuter and Vernon Sparks, from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in George picked Gobodo up from St Alban’s prison in Port Elizabeth on Monday afternoon.
He was due to appear before the George Regional Court on Tuesday for a rape committed in the area in May 2009.
Gobodo drew a knife and allegedly stabbed Wolhuter in the neck and shoulder.
He then held the knife to Sparks’ throat, the driver, and threatened to stab him if he did not turn the car around.
He ordered Sparks to drive to Uitenhage.
“At about 4.10pm the suspect got off near a taxi rank in Uitenhage and disappeared among the taxis... Sparks went to a cafe nearby and requested assistance,” Naidu said.
Wolhuter was taken to Cuyler Hospital in a stable condition.
“It is not known how Gobodo had a knife and why he was not handcuffed... there is a departmental investigation into that now.”
Gobodo was also due to stand trial for a murder which took place in Kwazakele. He was found guilty in 2005 for possession of an unlicensed firearm in the same area. In 2009 he was found guilty of house-breaking in Thembalethu in George.
“He goes by different names like Lungani, Shonti, Xoliswa, Frank, Mtz, Ta, Hlongwana and Hlongwane and that’s why he is still pending trial for some of these crimes... but we are still investigating all these charges.”
Anyone who knew Gobodo’s whereabouts could contact their local police station or the Uitenhage police on 041-996-3438.
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