Police were following ”good leads” on Tuesday on the whereabouts of a a 29-year-old Mozambican former soldier who escaped from Pretoria’s C-Max prison, a spokesperson said.
”We haven’t found him yet. We are still following leads, but we have good leads,” investigating officer Captain Arnold Boonsthra said on Tuesday morning.
The awaiting trial prisoner, Annanias Mathe, escaped from the country’s most secure prison on Saturday night. It is believed that he stripped and covered his
entire body with petroleum jelly to climb out of a window measuring 20cm x 60cm.
He was first arrested a year ago but four months later escaped from Johannesburg central police station’s high-risk detention facility. He was recaptured in December and sent to C-Max.
Boonsthra said Mathe appeared to have uncuffed himself, climbed through several small windows after breaking them and forced himself out onto the roof of the prison.
Mathe faced 51 charges, including murder, attempted murder, rape, hijacking and armed robbery.
He was detained in the A6 section, which houses hardened criminals regarded as escape risks.
Boonsthra urged anyone with useful information to call Captain Fires Jansen van Vuuren on 082-822-8174 or Inspector Selepe on 082-225-2230.
”Members of the public should contact police and not try to arrest him on their own because he is dangerous,” said Boonsthra. – Sapa