Five convicts who escaped from Westville prison on Monday and were recaptured on Wednesday will face new charges and be moved to a place ”with higher security”.
KwaZulu-Natal safety and security minister Bheki Cele said: ”it would be amazing if there was no collaboration” with prison officials in the escape.
Mlungisi Zulu, Velaphi Alios Shozi, Stembiso Mthethwa, Thembakuhle Selby Sikakane and Lucky Thwala were re-arrested at 3.30am on Wednesday in a house in Cliffdale, a rural area near Camperdown.
Cele said the investigation into the escape would continue and he vowed that all corrupt officials would be rooted out.
Cele said he and Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour were both worried about security at Westville Medium B prison, and had decided on Tuesday that when the men were rearrested they would be taken to a maximum security prison.
Cele commended the investigators for working tirelessly to re-arrest the convicts and thanked the public who assisted with information.
His message to prison authorities: ”It takes a lot of time, money and effort to get them so if you have them, keep them!”
The five armed men made a dramatic getaway on Monday, overpowering three warders, stripping the men of their uniforms and taking a fourth official hostage.
Firing random shots, they left the warder at the inner gate, hijacked a social worker who had just driven into the complex and later dumped her at a traffic light in Mariannhill before driving off in her vehicle.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Vish Naidoo said the escapees were in civilian clothes when they were found on Wednesday.
They ”were in possession of a pistol and a revolver as well as three cell keys for the Medium B prison,” he said.
Naidoo said detectives had been working non-stop since the men had escaped. They had received a tip-off from Correctional Services about their whereabouts.
The men were all serving lengthy sentences for murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.
Meanwhile, former welfare MEC Prince Gideon Zulu has lashed out at Cele, asking how he knew the men would be re-arrested in two days.
Cele said at the time the statement was made he had sufficient information to know that they were close to re-capturing the men.
Two of the convicts, Zulu and Thwala, were convicted for the murder of Prince Gideon Zulu’s son, Prince Mazwi Zulu, in 2002.
His wife was also injured in that attack and Zulu said his family was living in fear.
”They did not escape, it was a release,” he said.
”I believe they got out to impart their [criminal] skills to people outside.”
He accused Cele of playing political games and said he wanted answers as his family was ”very very traumatised”.
Zulu said he hoped” my other family members won’t be attacked”.
Zulu said his other son, Prince Mzobanzi, a student at the University of Zululand, had been shot dead in the Ulundi area in 1995 and no-one had ever been arrested for that murder. – Sapa