Pretoria – Four of the remaining six inmates who escaped from the Groenpunt Correctional Services Centre in Vereeniging have been re-arrested.
The four inmates, Zandile Elvis Nkhabu, Teko Mphuthi, Kwazi Nkosi Ndlovu and Tfhediso Benjamin Mokoena, were re-arrested this morning in Deneysville in the Free State.
Initially, seven inmates escaped from the centre in the early hours of Thursday morning.
One of the escapees, Majafe Celso Romao, was re-arrested on the way to Sasolburg, in the Free State, on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the inmates escaped through a window at the centre.
The two offenders still on the run are Phillip Tivane and Petros Kgatliso Mabela.
Acting National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Zachariya Modise, praised the law enforcement officials for the speedy arrests of the inmates.
“On behalf of DCS, we want to praise these officials, from DCS, the South African Police Service and all other enforcement agencies, who went beyond the call of duty to ensure the speedy arrest of these five inmates.
“With this kind of dedication and commitment, we are confident that the remaining two inmates will also be arrested shortly,” he said.
Commissioner Modise said DCS will continue to ensure that a high standard of safe, and secure custody at all the country’s 243 correctional centres is maintained.
During the last financial year (1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015), the percentage of escapes from correctional centres stood at 0.024%.
“We are once again appealing to members of the public not to approach any of these inmates should they encounter any of them, but to report to the nearest police station.
“We are also calling upon any person who may have any information that will assist in this investigation to please come forward,” Commissioner Modise said.
Around-the-clock work has resulted in the arrest of five, of the seven, inmates.
The inmates were arrested for various serious crimes such as robbery, kidnaping, rape, burglary and illegal possession of firearms. – SAnews.gov.za
