Parliament’s correctional services committee is to find out for itself on Thursday how Annanias Mathe escaped from Pretoria’s C-Max prison late last year.
Head of the portfolio committee Dennis Bloem said on Tuesday the visit will not replace an existing probe into the serial offender’s escape from the prison’s maximum-security section in November last year.
He expressed confidence in the national intelligence, police and correctional-services team currently investigating the escape.
”We are going to check what actually happened when he escaped … we want a briefing from the head of the prison to show us; it’s an on-the-spot check, we don’t want to hear things,” said Bloem.
He said there is no reason to doubt the ability of the team already looking into the circumstances of the escape.
”There’s a high-powered investigation that the minister [of correctional services Ngconde Balfour] has put together and we don’t have any intention, or for that matter the capacity, as the portfolio committee to investigate the escape.
”It is national intelligence, police and correctional services. They are very dedicated and professional. I don’t have any reason to doubt their ability,” he said.
In December Balfour announced the suspensions of several prison officials suspected of helping Mathe break out, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said a report will be made to Balfour, who will then decide which parts to make public.
”The process is still under way and the investigating committee is expected to submit the full findings of the report to the minister on January 31,” Wolela said.
Mathe, who now faces charges relating to his escape, is also 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. — Sapa