Prison officials are combing for clues on how a prisoner convicted for robbery escaped from Mabopane's Odi Correctional Services centre, north of Tshwane, on Monday.
The information on the mysterious escape of Phillimon Hlepo Chabalala, serving a 15-year sentence, came to light after a tip-off from one of the inmates.
"No one knows how he escaped. But the only exit that could be used is the one from the back of the prison," a fellow inmate told Sowetan.
The Department of Correctional Services yesterday confirmed Chabalala's mysterious escape.
Ofentse Morwane, spokesman of the department in Gauteng, said they have now started an internal investigation to establish facts around Chabalala's escape.
Police are also hot on the escapee's heels, Morwane said.
"An around-the-clock manhunt comprising other law enforcement agencies has been launched to ensure that the offender is recaptured," Morwane said.
He said the department will get to the bottom of how Chabalala made the daring escape.
"The department views this as a serious breach of its security measures as it is steadfast on achieving a zero percent escape rate.
"It is for this reason that the department has re-established the Back-2-Basics security campaign where all the basic security principles are enforced."
Chabalala hails from Mmakaunyana, a village near Mabopane. Not much is known about him.
Another inmate alleged that Chabalala has had several fights with warders in the prison, leading to one officer threatening to kill him. He allegedly defeated warders in one fight.
"They could not beat him. They needed more manpower to achieve that," said the inmate.
The prisoner said of late Chabalala has been demanding to be moved to another prison.
"The transfer issue was known to the head of the centre.
"Chabalala wanted to be transferred because Odi does not have rehabilitation activities and officials treat offenders badly," he said.
Morwane did not respond to question sent to him by Sowetan relating to Chabalala's behaviour in prison.
Authorities urged anyone with information on Chabalala's whereabouts to assist them.
Said Morwane: "An appeal is being made to those who may have any information about the whereabouts of the escapee to report this to the nearest police station."
nkosib@sowetan.co.za
Mabopane prison officials baffled by escape of inmate
Prison officials are combing for clues on how a prisoner convicted for robbery escaped from Mabopane's Odi Correctional Services centre, north of Tshwane, on Monday.
The information on the mysterious escape of Phillimon Hlepo Chabalala, serving a 15-year sentence, came to light after a tip-off from one of the inmates.
"No one knows how he escaped. But the only exit that could be used is the one from the back of the prison," a fellow inmate told Sowetan.
The Department of Correctional Services yesterday confirmed Chabalala's mysterious escape.
Ofentse Morwane, spokesman of the department in Gauteng, said they have now started an internal investigation to establish facts around Chabalala's escape.
Police are also hot on the escapee's heels, Morwane said.
"An around-the-clock manhunt comprising other law enforcement agencies has been launched to ensure that the offender is recaptured," Morwane said.
He said the department will get to the bottom of how Chabalala made the daring escape.
"The department views this as a serious breach of its security measures as it is steadfast on achieving a zero percent escape rate.
"It is for this reason that the department has re-established the Back-2-Basics security campaign where all the basic security principles are enforced."
Chabalala hails from Mmakaunyana, a village near Mabopane. Not much is known about him.
Another inmate alleged that Chabalala has had several fights with warders in the prison, leading to one officer threatening to kill him. He allegedly defeated warders in one fight.
"They could not beat him. They needed more manpower to achieve that," said the inmate.
The prisoner said of late Chabalala has been demanding to be moved to another prison.
"The transfer issue was known to the head of the centre.
"Chabalala wanted to be transferred because Odi does not have rehabilitation activities and officials treat offenders badly," he said.
Morwane did not respond to question sent to him by Sowetan relating to Chabalala's behaviour in prison.
Authorities urged anyone with information on Chabalala's whereabouts to assist them.
Said Morwane: "An appeal is being made to those who may have any information about the whereabouts of the escapee to report this to the nearest police station."
nkosib@sowetan.co.za
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