The Department of Correctional Services confirmed on Thursday that Annanias Mathe’s father (80) was taken in for questioning after he allegedly tried to smuggle an illegal substance into C-Max Prison.
”The officials spotted through a scanner a bottle with a black substance inside a loaf of bread carried by the 80-year-old man,” departmental spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said.
Wolela said Mathe’s father told officials on Wednesday that the parcel, which he called ”muti”, was given to him by a man from Alexandra and he was to give it to Mathe.
The bread and the black substance will be sent for laboratory tests, Manelisi said.
During questioning, police also found out that the father’s permit had expired and he was therefore denied access to his son.
Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour condemned the behaviour of Mathe’s father and said: ”Parents and families should assist in correcting offending behaviour instead of supporting criminal activities.”
Mathe (31) escaped from the country’s most secure prison, C-Max, in December last year.
He is facing 76 charges, which include seven charges of rape, four of attempted murder, five of housebreaking with intent to rob, and robbery with aggravated circumstances. — Sapa