Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane has welcomed the re-arrest of a dangerous offender, the 27 year old Nhlanhla Manda who escaped from Kalafong Hospital last week. Commissioner Moyane ascribed the successful re-arrest to high levels of collaboration among the criminal justice partners especially the South African Police Services, as well as the media and the citizens of South Africa.
Commissioner Moyane said the message is clear to those still on the run and those contemplating escaping from custody that even if they manage to “run they cannot hide” anywhere in South Africa. He thanked the media for “splashing details and the picture of the escaped lifer all over the country, the South African Police Services for their investigations and re-arrest of the escapee as well as ordinary citizens for not providing sanctuary to fugitives from justice”. “It is this level of collaboration that pushed the escapee offender Manda to hand himself over to the police and correctional officials resulting in his rearrest at Bundu Inn just outside of Denelton in Mpumalanga last night,” said Commissioner Moyane.
The lifer Manda who was sentenced in July 2007 to life for murder and robbery contacted Brigadier Masha of the South African Police Services in Mpumalanga who requested correctional officials from Zonderwater to accompany the police in re-arresting the escapee last night at about 19h00. Offender Manda has been removed from Zonderwater Correctional Centre and will remain in the Pretoria Correctional Centre until the investigation and disciplinary processes have taken place. The two officials responsible for guarding him at the hospital are still on suspension pending the finalisation of the investigation and disciplinary processes.
Offender Manda is expected to face a further charge of escaping from lawful custody which may carry a maximum sentence of five years behind bars.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
