Escaped poachers ‘delaying inevitable’
Five convicted rhino poachers who escaped from Waainek Correctional facility in Makhanda in the early hours of Tuesday October 18 were simply delaying the inevitable, said senior prosecutor Buks Coetzee. One of the seven escapees has been arrested.
The five were awaiting sentencing in the Makhanda high court after their conviction on charges of conspiracy to poach rhinos.
They were among seven inmates awaiting sentencing who escaped from the facility, which is on the west side of Makhanda, close to the N2.
South African Police Service spokesperson Majola Nkohli said on Tuesday, at about 4am, an officer arrived for standby duty at the prison when she saw lights on in one of the units.
“It was discovered that seven prisoners had escaped through a window,” Nkohli said.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene immediately implemented a 72hour activation plan.
Police opened a case of escaping from lawful custody for further investigation.
The escapees include Luvuyo September, a South African citizen, who was detained for charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery, and Bennet Kwarrie, a Zimbabwean national, who was detained for housebreaking and theft and attempted murder.
The other five escapees, who were convicted in the Makhanda high court on September 20 on charges of conspiracy to poach rhinos, are Francis Chitiyo, Trymore Chauke, Simba Masinge, Nhamo Muyambo and Abraham Moyane.
They are all Zimbabwean nationals and were scheduled for sentencing on November 4. The five poachers were arrested on the N2 near Makhanda in July 2018, together with Misheck Chauke, who has not been identified as one of the escapees.
The six had been in custody since then. The case was precedent-setting in that it was the first from arrest to conviction for conspiracy to poach rhinos, and the first case in the Eastern Cape to test evidence without there having been a dead rhino or a rhino horn. A similar conviction (conspiracy to poach rhinos) in the Gqeberha high court two weeks earlier was reached through admission of guilt.
These convictions were achieved through meticulously detailed evidence that included up-to-theminute analysis of cellphone records.
Economic and tourism MEC Mlungisi Mvoko hailed the verdict as a victory, saying it sent “a strong message to prospective poachers that there are dire consequences to poaching in the Eastern Cape”.
Prosecutor Buks Coetzee, commenting on the poachers’ escape, said: “I am very disappointed in the fact that it is possible to escape from prison.
“It leaves a bad taste in the mouth that prisoners can escape who are convicted of serious crimes that attract long-term sentences.
“We don’t know what arrangements they are able to make to hide out within South Africa, but they hopefully will not be allowed to cross the border.”
Asked if he felt this was a blow to the recent victory for the sector, Coetzee said: “No, this is just a setback. They have been convicted and it’s just a matter of time before they are caught and sentenced.
“I have every confidence in the ability of the South African Police Service to track them down and rearrest them,” Coetzee said.
In an update on Wednesday, SAPS Provincial spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said one of the escapees had been arrested. He did not confirm which of the seven this was, however.
Police warned the community that the prisoners were dangerous and should not be approached, and instead the police must be contacted.
“We are also urging communities not to protect these criminals as they will be committing an offence if found to be aiding and abetting them,” Nkohli said.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of these criminals is urged to contact the investigating officer, Detective Captain Glen Peter, on 082301-9427 or Crime Stop on 0860010111 or the nearest police station.
News of the prisoners’ escape on Tuesday unfolded on community WhatsApp groups across Makhanda.
Group members reported hearing the prison alarm sounding and police and security personnel everywhere.
Police had stopped a group of cyclists out on an early morning ride, telling them about the escape and warning them to be careful.
Later, locals reported helicopters and roadblocks around Makhanda and Port Alfred – part of the SAPS 72-hour activation plan.