Five of six escapees rearrested

POLICE are closing in on the six inmates who escaped from Pollsmoor on Sunday evening.

By yesterday evening, five of the six had been caught, and Department of Corrections spokesperson Simphiwe Xako said authorities were “hot on their heels” of the last convict. “Working together with the SAPS, the department is positive that the outstanding inmate will be caught and brought to justice within 72 hours.”

Courtline Oliver, Mirvan Witbooi, Gershwin Mol, Courtney None and Emile Witbooi were recaptured yesterday.

Mol was arrested at a scrapyard in Blackheath. None and Witbooi were caught in Ocean View.

Xako said the manhunt got under way around 10.30pm on Sunday after the six men escaped from the Medium B prison.

“The men, who have all been sentenced, fled after removing bars with a metal pole they obtained by breaking one of their beds. One of the escaped convicts is serving 12 years for attempted murder, another had four to five years left in a rape sentence while the rest have been sentenced for petty crimes.”

The department said they had initiated an internal investigation into the matter.

“Members of the public are urged not to try to engage the escapees but rather report to the nearest police station.”

The only outstanding escapee is 20-year-old Siphenathi Ntaniso, who was convicted of rape.

The emergency support team from Correctional Services is working with police to find them.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE URGED NOT TO TRY TO ENGAGE THE ESCAPEES BUT RATHER REPORT TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION