Escaped convicted rapist caught while another at large in EC

An escaped convicted rapist has been caught and rearrested while another rapist remains at large after escaping from a prison in the Eastern Cape last Thursday.

Siyabulela Khohliso, who is serving a ten-year sentence for rape, escaped from the Ngqeleni Correctional Centre on Freedom Day but was caught on Monday night in the Libode area.

He has since been transferred to Mthatha Correctional Services, department of correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.

Khohliso fled the prison with another rapist, Athini Nothi Mzingelwa, who is serving an eight-year sentence. Mzingelwa is still at large, Nxumalo said.

National commissioner for the department Makgothi Thobakgale visited the prison on Monday where he announced the suspension of eight prison officials who were on duty on the day of the escape.

“Two additional officials have been issued with notice of suspension,” Nxumalo said.

The suspension of officials comes after the escapees took part in activities that were not approved by the wardens on duty, said Thobakgale.

“These incidents [of escapes] are sporadic in our correctional service. We house 160,000 inmates in our prisons and we have a huge population as compared to 27,000 prison officials ... The past three years, the number of escapees has declined in South Africa, meaning we are doing well, but we can’t rule out instances like this where our own officials do not exercise their responsibilities in the manner that they should,” Thobakgale said.

Nxumalo said investigations into the escape are ongoing.

“More developments are expected to ensue,” he said.

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