The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is probing the death of an alleged criminal found hanged in a holding cell.
|||Durban - The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is probing the death of a man, alleged to be a notorious criminal, who was found hanged in the holding cells of the Newark police station near KwaDukuza on Tuesday.
Siyabonga “Mfana” Mthembu was wanted in connection with a spate of rapes, robberies and hijackings, police spokesman Thulani Zwane said on Tuesday night.
Mthembu, 20, had been found with part of a blanket from his bed in the cell tied around his throat.
He had been arrested in Newark on allegations of possession of an unlicensed firearm, Zwane said.
He was not aware of the circumstances of his arrest. The investigation had been referred to the directorate.
A high-ranking police source said Mthembu was alleged to have raped a woman in Umlazi on Monday night.
“We went to the scene, but Mfana had fled. We chased him, but could not locate him,” the source said.
When the police pulled Mthembu over, searched his car and found him to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm, they had no idea of his identity.
However, word spread fast on the police radio and the Umlazi police soon confirmed the man in the Newark police cells was “Mfana”, wanted in connection with more than 40 rapes.
The Mercury