One of the seven escaped prisoners ‘rearrested in Free State after being hit by truck’

hijacking

Cape Town – One of the seven prisoners who escaped from Makhanda correctional facility on Tuesday was reportedly rearrested in the Free State after he was allegedly hit by a truck.

The prisoners allegedly used a hacksaw to cut through the prison bars before making their break.

“A hacksaw was used to break the burglar bars. It means there was a lapse in security because if there was constant patrolling taking place this shouldn’t have happened. The manner in which these burglars were cut tells us it took a lot of time and the correctional services did not detect that, which is worrying,” TimesLIVE quoted deputy justice and correctional services minister, Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa as saying.

Eastern Cape police immediately launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Bennet Kwarrie, a Zimbabwean was arrested hours after their escape,  SowetanLIVE reported.

Correction services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that Kwarrie was caught on Tuesday night, adding that he was in hospital under police guard.

“We can confirm that he is in a stable condition in a health facility in the Free State where he is under strict police guard. The information I have shows that a truck hit him in the Free State while he was still on the run. He will be transferred to another hospital in the Eastern Cape before he is sent back to prison,” Nxumalo said.

ALSO READ | Police launch manhunt for seven dangerous prisoners who cut prison bars with a hacksaw and escaped

The escaped prisoners included six Zimbabwean nationals and one South African, police said in a statement.

They were arrested on charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, and housebreaking to rhino poaching, said police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli.

He also warned the public not to approach the prisoners, and instead call the police.

“Police are warning the community that these prisoners are dangerous and should not be approached instead police must be contacted.  We are also urging communities not to protect these criminals as they will be committing an offence if found to be aiding and abetting them,” said Nkohli.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these criminals was urged to contact the investigating officer, Det-Cap Glen Peter at 082-301-9427 or Crime Stop at 08600-10111 or report the knowledge to the nearest police station.

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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe 

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