A CRAFTY escape from Qalakabusha prison has earned Sibusiso Gumede a spot at the most secure detention facility in the country: Kokstad C-Max.
In February, Gumede attended the prison’s visitation area wearing plain clothes underneath his prison uniform to meet with his sister, whom he claims was unaware of his intention to escape.
During the visit, he managed to slip out of uniform unnoticed.
He then dumped the uniform and strolled out of the prison with a group of visitors.
With the help of informants, police arrested him in the Mtubatuba area three days later through a joint operation between the Department of Correctional Services’ Emergency Team and the SAPS.
A day after his arrest, he appeared at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty.
The 28-year-old was serving a combined sentence of 32 years at the time of his escape for multiple offences dating as far back as 2010, including assault, robbery and a previous escape from custody.
The Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday sentenced him to a further three years of imprisonment, bringing the total to 35.
During trial, he was transferred to Kokstad C-Max prison and now will serve the next three years of his sentence in solitary confinement at the prison.
Gumede’s Legal Aid defence intends to appeal his sentences, considering them too harsh, and intends to submit a plea to have them run concurrently, which would reduce the total substantially.
