PE escapee rearrested in Aliwal North

The man who escaped from the Walmer police station in Port Elizabeth less than two weeks ago has been rearrested in Aliwal North.

Sizwe Jika, 27, who has been described as extremely dangerous, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.

Jika escaped on September 21 by climbing out of a window at the Walmer police station shortly after his fingerprints were taken.

Since his escape, Mount Road cluster task team detectives have been combing the province looking for him.

Jika has been linked to the murder of Ann Smit, 86, who was bludgeoned with a hammer in her Kamma Park home in May, and several burglaries.

Jika had initially been caught while walking in Adam Road, Charlo, with a friend.

He escaped within hours of his arrest.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed on Wednesday that forensic evidence at Smit’s house connected him to her murder.

“Since his escape, a team of detectives has travelled all over the province looking for him.

“Several houses of known associates were also raided in the Bay,” Naidu said.

“Last week, information was received that [Jika] has family in Burgersdorp [near Aliwal North] and that he also knows various people in small towns across the province.

“Since then, detectives had been staking out various locations.”

On Wednesday morning, the detectives received a tip-off that he had been seen in the Aliwal North CBD.

“A team was mobilised and the Aliwal North Operational Command Centre [OCC] was asked to assist.

“The OCC deployed mass resources in the area and the suspect [Jika] was caught while walking in the street.”

Detectives from Port Elizabeth left at 6pm to bring him back to the city.

Mount Road cluster commander Major-General Thembisile Patekile, who was involved with the investigation, said Jika had been connected to seven burglaries in the Mount Road, Walmer and Kabega Park policing areas, as well as to Smit’s murder.

“Additional charges of house robbery and escaping from custody will be added.”

The house robbery charges are linked to Smit’s murder.

Smit was beaten and left for dead in her Kamma Park house on May 28. She was found by Neighbourhood Watch patrol members.

Detectives found an axe lying in the garden and a hammer inside the house.

Smit died in Greenacres Hospital weeks after the attack.

Jika is due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Friday.