Escaped murderer back behind bars
THE convicted murderer who pulled a daring escape at the Groot Drakenstein Prison earlier this year was caught and handed a six-month jail sentence for the prison break.
Lwandile Yeko, serving 25 years for murder, housebreaking and theft of a vehicle, made headlines in February when he escaped from his cell after using a hacksaw to saw through his window. Officials are still puzzled about how he managed to get the hacksaw.
It was reported that in September 2008, Yeko, 30, was sentenced for the murder of Parow resident Jeanette Peterson and the attempted murder of her boyfriend, Brian Greening, in their Pringle Bay beach home in January 2005. The couple were reportedly asleep when he attacked them, stabbing them repeatedly.
Yeko was 18 at the time and living with his uncle in Kleinmond. His age, the judge reportedly said, had prevented him from being sentenced to life imprisonment.
This week, police spokesperson Andre Traut said Yeko was arrested two months after his escape from prison.
“The escapee was re-arrested on May 3, 2017, in Mbekweni (near Paarl) and handed a 6-month jail sentence for the escape. He is also serving jail time in Drakenstein prison for the crimes he was convicted on,” said Traut.
His escape left officials at the the Groot Drakenstein prison scratching their heads. At the time, they believed Yeko had family in Eerste River and Muizenberg, and a girlfriend in Lwandle near Strand.
A probe into how he got the hacksaw was established. There were contractors doing renovations in the facility.
It was the first time in 20 years that a prisoner considered dangerous had escaped from the facility.
Correctional Services regional commissioner Delekile Klaas said their investigation could not establish how Yeko got the saw. Klaas said they suspected it was left unattended by one of the employees working at the facility or it was given to him.
“We worked very closely with the police in tracing him. Police informed us he was hiding in the area of Mbekweni. Fortunately, he did not commit crime. He is dangerous. He knew we were watching him and that is why we want to send a strong message to those who want to escape that we will catch them,” said Klaas.