While the country was celebrating 29 years of freedom on Thursday, two inmates from the Nqeleni Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape, took the opportunity to free themselves from prison by escaping from a sports field where activities were taking place.
The Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabaho Nxumalo says a manhunt has been launched after the two convicted rapists broke free during the Freedom Day outdoor activities.
Xumalo says Siyabulela Khohliso serving a 10-year sentence and Athini Nothi Mzingelwa serving 8 years, escaped about 15h30 from the sports field.
”Additional resources have been deployed in support of the Emergency Support Team of Correctional Services, working together with the SAPS to hunt down the two inmates.
“Investigations into this incident are underway, but what is critical at this stage is the arrest of the two offenders ”Nxumalo said.
The department urged members of the public to contact the nearest police station should they see the two escapees.
The Correctional Department has recently come under fire after it emerged that convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester faked his own death and escaped from the Mangaung prison in Free State in 2022.
Bester was re-arrested in Tanzania with his girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magadumana and appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court.
Magudumana was remanded in custody for a formal bail application set for May 3 and 4.
She will appear together with her father Zolile Sekeleni who is out on a R10 000 bail while Bester’s case was postponed to May 16 for further investigations.