The Department of Correctional Services has launched a manhunt following an escape of two sentenced inmates from Ngqeleni Correctional Centre, in the Eastern Cape.

The escapees are Siyabulela Khohliso, serving a 10 year sentence for rape and Athini Nothi Mzingelwa who is also sentenced for rape, serving 8 years.

The two escaped at about 15h30 on 27 April 2023 from the prisons sports field.

The Department says additional resources have been deployed in support of the Emergency Support Team of Correctional Services working together with the South African Police Service to hunt down the two inmates.

An investigation into this incident has been launched by DCS.

But critical at this stage is the rearrest of the two offenders. Members of the public are urged to contact the nearest police station should they come into contact with the two escapees.

Members of the public can also contact the Department on 0860 000 327
or email: enquiry.complaints@dcs.gov.za

The escape of the two rapists come as the spotlight is firmly on Correctional Services and the widely publicized, and now infamous, escape of Thabo Bester in May last year.

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Dozens of escapes have been reported over the years in South Africa.

According to the Department’s annual reports for the 2021/2022 financial year, 22 inmates escaped from various prisons around the country.

The year before, a staggering 117 inmates escaped, while 34 broke out of correctional facilities the year before that.

A renowned prison break was that of Annanias Mathe. Mathe, who was convicted and sentenced for rape, murder and house robbery, was known for several escape attempts from maximum security prisons across the country.

Among his many escape attempts before his death in 2016, Mathe managed to break out from Johannesburg Central Prison in January 2005 and Pretoria C-Max Prison in 2006.

Meanwhile, the Department’s most recent headache, that of Thabo Bester, has seen calls for government to end it’s contracts with G4S, who manages the Mangaung prison and one other private prison in the country.