13 hours ago
Awaiting trial prisoner rearrested in Limpopo after three months on the run
An escaped prisoner is back in custody after about three months on the run.
He and an alleged accomplice were arrested for the possession of stolen property and an unlicensed firearm.
Police also confiscated an unlicensed firearm and suspected stolen cellphone.
An awaiting trial prisoner has been rearrested in Limpopo after about three months on the run.
He was arrested along with an alleged accomplice.
According to police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, police detectives at the Burgersfort Investigating Unit arrested the two men, both aged 34, at a rented property in Ga-Manyaka village.
They are expected to appear in court on Monday.
'The members who were on standby duties received information about the location of the awaiting trial prisoner who escaped from the cells during March,' said Ledwaba.
'They accurately followed the leads, whereby the suspect - aged 34 - was arrested at the rented residence at Ga-Manyaka village. During the arrest, he was with his friend.'
Police searched the property and discovered an unlicensed firearm and suspected stolen cellphone.
'The cellphone was linked with an armed robbery that was reported during this month. Both suspects were then apprehended,' Ledwaba added.
READ | Bester insists he cannot prepare for escape trial without laptop - but judge not buying it
The escapee had previously been arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and armed robbery.
This comes after a manhunt was launched in February for four awaiting trial prisoners who escaped from holding cells at the Northam police station in Limpopo.
In addition, News24 previously reported that a manhunt was launched for an inmate who escaped from Pollsmoor Prison while he was part of a work team carrying out maintenance on the facility's grounds. He was serving a six-month sentence for theft and trespassing.
That escape came shortly after an incident in Cape Town in December, when a detainee escaped while being transported to Pollsmoor Prison.
The man reportedly escaped through the roof of the prison transport vehicle he was travelling in.
Also in December, four men escaped from the Swartruggens police station's holding cells in the North West. The detainees escaped after forcing their exit through the roof of the cell they were in.
