Johannesburg - A 39-year-old man who had impersonated a police captain has been re-arrested after he had escaped from police holding cells, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said on Friday.
Spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said fake police captain Alex Mailula was captured on Thursday night and was shot in the foot during the course of his arrest.
“During his arrest Maake tried his luck with the Hawks but was shot in the foot and is currently under heavy police guard at a hospital in Limpopo… Captain Mailula, whose real name is Alex Matsobane Maake, had escaped from police holding cells in Polokwane on February 13, just two days after he was arrested for impersonating a police officer,” Mulaudzi said.
“In 2012, Maake arrived at Polokwane SAPS and introduced himself as Captain Mailula from SAPS [SA Police Service] National Head Office and without any verification and vetting, Maake was allowed to start performing his duties, which included leading the elite group tasked with tracing most wanted suspects. A few months before his arrival in Limpopo, Maake had escaped from lawful custody in Pretoria Central police station where he was awaiting sentence after he had been convicted of rape he had committed in 2010 at Boschkop.”
Mulaudzi said besides the cases of impersonating a police official and escaping from lawful custody in Seshego and Polokwane, Maake will also have to answer to another rape case in which he was convicted in Crystal Park in 2009 but but had faltered on the bail conditions.
Acting Hawks head Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, congratulated the team for the arrest and said the matter was far from over.
“Given the seriousness circumstances of this particular suspect, the two-man team’s quick and successful investigative work will bring a sense of hope that justice will be delivered,” he said in a statement.
“I must warn that this matter is far from over. We are still going to unravel this mystery how Mailula managed to enter into our system and exploit it for his benefit. That is the biggest question South Africa is asking and I will personally make sure that we deliver on that command. Those found to have assisted this dangerous criminal, their days are numbered and they should voluntarily provide that information or they will answer in court.”
ANA