EASTERN CAPE - DANGEROUS PRISON ESCAPEES CAPTURED & ARRESTED AFTER FLEEING INTO PARK

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has applauded what she described as “a remarkable breakthrough” in the search for the most dangerous prisoners who escaped from the Middledrift Correctional Centre on the eve of the National and Provincial General Elections, the 7th of May 2019.

These arrests are a sequel to an intelligence driven operation which included the King William’s Town Flying Squad, K9 Unit, Provincial tracing unit and Zwelitsha detectives. According to the information, the two escapees are believed to have been moving between Zwelitsha and Sweetwaters when they were spotted near the robots yesterday, 23 May 2019.  On realising that they were at the risk of being identified by the police, they started running towards a nearby Public Park where they were subsequently arrested.

It is not clear at this stage where they have been hiding at and the activities in which they had been involved. Police investigation is on-going to also establish if they did not commit other crimes after breaking away from the Prison. The arrested suspects, Aviwe Nkwalase aged 29 and Sizwe Mhlana aged 33 are facing charges relating to escaping from lawful custody and are expected to appear in the Middledrift Magistrate’s Court on Monday the 27th of May 2019. The third suspect, Andisa Vas is still on the run and the police are determined to make an arrest soon. Again, people are cautioned not to make any attempt to apprehend the remaining suspect as it is believed that he might be armed.

Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga reiterated her concerns about criminality which is perpetuated by those that had already been convicted and sentenced by the courts of law. “Once again I wish to appreciate the work of the integrated forces and community which resulted to the arrest of these offenders. Such escapes had the potential to traumatise the victims of the crimes that were committed by these escapees.” General Ntshinga concluded.

Anyone with information that can lead to the immediate arrest of the outstanding suspect, may please call the nearest police station or Crime Stop at 08 600 10 111.