Cape Town – Two fugitives who escaped from Makhanda Correctional Facility last year were rearrested on Sunday following an intelligence-driven police operation in the Eastern Cape.
The two inmates were among the seven dangerous prisoners who escaped from the prison by allegedly cutting through the prison bars with a hacksaw in October.
They had been arrested on charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, and housebreaking to rhino poaching.
One of the escaped inmates was recaptured hours after the escape after he was hit by a truck in the Free State.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said this week that housebreaking tools to the value of R100 000 were also seized during Sunday’s arrest of the two fugitives.
Nkohli said police had received information about five suspects travelling in a silver Hyundai i10 targeting a cellphone battery tower in the Tarkastad area on Saturday, May 20, adding that a vehicle fitting the description was later spotted along the R61 towards Tarkastad, about 20km outside Komani.
“The vehicle had five occupants and was pulled off the road. Police questioned the five occupants and also requested a search.
2 of the 7 dangerous Zimbabwean prisoners who escaped from Grahamstwon Prison on 18 October 2022, Nhamo Muyambo and Francis Chitho were re-arrested on Sunday 21 May 2023 at eMpindweni settlement in Umthatha. The Notorious prisoners were charged for poaching, murder, robbery etc. pic.twitter.com/u0l65BHMVU
— THE TRUTH PANTHER (@TheTruthPanther) May 22, 2023
“Police seized housebreaking implements valued around R100,000. A preliminary investigation revealed that one of the occupants is wanted for a rhino poaching incident in the Western Cape. The five men were arrested and detained,” said Nkohli.
The operation led investigators to a house in Mthatha where where the two fugitives who escaped from the Makhanda prison were found and rearrested.
“A total of seven suspects were arrested during [Sunday’s] operation. Some of these suspects are positively linked to at least five rhino poaching cases in the Eastern Cape.” said Nkohli.
The provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, commended the task team for their efforts and breakthrough.
“I hope these arrests will bring about a decrease in the killings of rhinos in the province,” Mene said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
