/ 16 January 2007

Annanias Mathe to appear in court

Annanias Mathe, who escaped from the high-security C-Max prison in Pretoria last year, will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported.

He is to face a charge relating to his escape in November.

Mathe, who has been described as the country’s most notorious prisoner, is facing more than 50 other charges, including rape, robbery, attempted murder and hijacking.

He is believed to be connected to a criminal syndicate operating between South Africa and Mozambique.

Prison authorities have not revealed how Mathe escaped from C-Max.

Some reports said he broke two steel bars from his bed which he wedged on either side of the window to help him slide his shoulders through. He apparently took another steel pipe from his bed and made a hook. He then tied his clothes and bed linen to it and used that to slide out of the cell.

In December, Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour said several prison officials suspected of helping Mathe were on suspension pending an outcome of an investigation. – Sapa