LIMPOPO – A fifth escapee, 27-year-old Justice Makamo, was rearrested in Musina on Sunday afternoon with the help of quality information supplied by residents, says the police.
“This brings the number of prisoners arrested so far to five,” said Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
Nyota Raphael (30) from Harare, Zimbabwe and Phathutshedzo Nemadodzi (34) from Dididi in Thohoyandou are still on the run.
We take this opportunity to thank community members for their continued support.
28 October 2017
LIMPOPO – Three more escapees were rearrested in and around the Waterval policing area earlier today (Saturday).
Two men, Jabulani Isaac Mahlangu and Thomas Munyai, were nabbed in a house is the Shirley area after a resident tip-offed the police on their whereabouts, said Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
“Mahlangu and Munyai were serving sentences for rape and murder respectively.”
Meanwhile another prisoner, Ntshengedzeni Manuka (37) was rearrested in Waterval, after police followed up on a tip -ff from another local resident.
This brings to four the number of prisoners arrested so far. Only three are still outstanding and the team is still continuing with the search, Mojapelo concluded.
The photos and names of the prisoners that are still at large are as follows:
27 October 2017
LIMPOPO – The outstanding six escapees have been identified, says the police.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says that this follows the rearrest of one of the inmates, Chris Faku (37), who escaped from the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Facility on Thursday night.
Faku is currently serving a sentence on aggravated robbery.
The photos and names of the prisoners that are still at large are as follows:
1. Jabulani Issac (born 1986) from Verena, Pretoria.
Cases:.2 rapes and 1 sexual assault
2. Phathutshedzo Nemadodzi (born 1983) from Dididi, Thohoyandou.
Cases: murder and robbery aggravating
3. Ntshengedzeni Manukha (born 1992) from Tshikweta mbilwi, Thohoyandou.
Cases: 1 rape,robbery aggravating
4. Ntshavheni Thomas Munyai (born 1988) from Itsani Riverside.
Case: Murder
5. Nyota Raphaelj (born 1987) from Harare, Zimbabwe.
Cases: House breaking and theft
6. Justice Makamo (born 1990) from Maputo.
Cases: Rape, business robbery, and common robbery.
After several counting processes, the total number of prisoners who escaped came to seven. We are still making an appeal to anyone with information to come forward, concludes Mojapelo.
15:50
LIMPOPO – The police have rearrested one of the prisoners who escaped from Kutama Sinthumule Correctional facility on Thursday night.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said the suspect, who cannot be named at this stage, was apprehended while trying to hitch hike along the Munic/Bandelierkop road.
Mojapelo explained that a dedicated team, comprising of operatives form Crime Intelligence, the K9, Tracker Unit, the TRTs, members of Visible policing and POPs are currently hard at work searching for the remaining five criminals.
“We appeal to the communities around the areas of Mavhungeni, Schoemansdal, Maebani and the surrounding farms to be on the lookout for suspicious looking persons and report it immediately to the police.”
Anyone with information is requested to contact the Makhado Station Commander Colonel Mabatha at 0825658171 or Lieutenant Colonel Tshililo at 0824146272.
Meanwhile the verification of names of the escapees and the offences for which they were incarcerated is still continuing and will be provided as soon as they become available, Mojapelo concluded.
10:48
LIMPOPO – Police in Makhado are currently searching for six prisoners who escaped.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says police in Makhado have opened cases of arson, malicious damage to property and escaping from lawful custody after prisoners of Kutama Sinthumule maximum prison went on the rampage on Thursday night, which continued into the early hours of this morning.
Read more: Prison break from Makhado prison
Mojapelo explained that the escapees took advantage of a situation while the prison wardens were engaged in protest and rummaged through the prison, making their escape.
“Public Order Police, the TRTs and Visible Policing members were deployed to stabilize the situation and it has now returned to normal.”
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A preliminary head count was conducted and it was discovered that six prisoners have escaped.
The Kutama Sinthumule Prison authorities are currently collating information through their systems to enable police to determine their ages, get their pictures as well as the offenses for which they were incarcerated.
This information will be made available for publication.
Review spoke to the Spokesperson for the Minister of Correctional Services, Logan Maistry who confirmed that the Department was notified on Thursday night on a work stoppage at the facility.
“We then worked with the South African Police Service to deploy officers as well as Public Order Police and we can confirm that the situation is now calm.”
Maistry, however said that at this stage, reports are simply allegations and that once they have all information needed, they will confirm.
“Despite the facility being privately owned, all law enforcement agencies are working together and we will make the identities of the prisoners who escaped, public, once we have confirmed,” he concluded.
“We are making an appeal to the communities in that area to assist the police with information that can lead to the re-arrest of these criminals. Anybody with information is requested to contact the police toll free number 0860010111 or contact the nearest police station, he concluded.
