Game over for notorious EC gangster

The Eastern Cape’s most notorious  gangster, Sakhumzi Mvoko, would arrive for court dressed in designer clothing, escorted by heavily armed police  in a vehicle with blaring sirens. In November, Mvoko was convicted  by the Ngqeleni District Court to three  years’ imprisonment for escaping from  the court in 2007.  His co-accused Odwa Sithole faced  the same fate. The pair had escaped  while appearing for the armed robbery  of a Ngqeleni shop two years earlier.  Mvoko had the support of his mother  and girlfriend who attended each proceeding during his court appearances  with Simthembile Zibi, Sithole, Bongani  Same and Mthuthuzeli Sisilana. The gang always appeared relaxed  and would share jokes and laugh.    But following Mvoko’s escape from  the Mthatha Correctional Facility last  year, he has been escorted to court by  dozens of police officers . Mvoko escaped with six other suspects in March 2011. Three were found  dead near the Mbashe River . The circumstances surrounding their deaths  remain unknown.  The other four were re-arrested in  April.   Mvoko and Sithole have since been  detained at Kokstad Maximum Security  Prison, and are escorted between  KwaZulu-Natal and Mthatha for court  appearances . Security was tightened at yesterday’s  judgment, with over 25 police officials  present compared to the usual average  of 13.