A manhunt has been launched for two prisoners who escaped from the Ngqeleni Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape on Freedom Day. The two convicted rapists were serving ten and eight years respectively.
THE ESCAPE
Siyabulela Khohliso and Athini Nothi Mzingelwa, escaped from the prison sports field around 3:30pm yesterday.Spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services Singabakho Nxumalo said Khohliso was serving an eight-year sentence while Mzingelwa was serving a 10-year sentence also for rape. "Additional resources have been deployed in support of the Emergency Support Team of Correctional Services working together with SAPS to hunt down the two inmates,' Nxumalo said,adding that an investigation into this incident has been launched. Members of the public are urged to contact the nearest police station should they come into contact with the two escapees or contact the Department on 0860 000 327.
PRISON BREAKS
Dozens of escapes have been reported over the years in the country with the recent one in the spotlight being that of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester. In October last year, seven dangerous prisoners escaped from the Makhanda Correctional Centre, also in the Eastern Cape. One was re-arrested while another one was hit by a truck in Free State. In August 2020, six prisoners awaiting trial escaped from the Sada Correctional Facility in Whittlesea, Eastern Cape. Also in August 2020, 69 prisoners staged a daring prison break at the Malmesbury Prison in the Western Cape.The group made of all awaiting trial prisoners overpowered guards, locking three of them in a cell and escaping through the main entrance at midday. They were later arrested.
INFAMOUS ESCAPES
Thabo Bester's prison escape will go into the history books as the second most notorious escape in South Africa after Mozambican Ananias Mathe. Mathe, was a notorious serial rapist and armed robber, who became the only person to have ever escaped from the maximum security Kgosi Mampuru C-Max in 2006. At the time, it was claimed that Mathe escaped through a small window in his cell using Vaseline. In 2009, six prison warders were fired for assisting Mathe escape. The most recent escape in the spotlight is that of convicted rapists and murderer Thabo Bester, who escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State in May 2022. He was allegedly helped by his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana, her father Xolile Sekeleni and prison officials. He was reportedly to have died when a charred body was found under a mattress in his cell. It has since emerged that the body belonged to Katlego Mpholo from Bloemfontein who went missing in March 2022.According to the Department of Correctional Services' annual reports for the 2021/2022 financial year, 22 inmates escaped from various prisons around the country, this being the lowest to have been reported in the last 27 years. This year alone, 117 inmates escaped from various prisons.
