Johannesburg - Four prisoners who escaped from custody were rearrested within hours, Eastern Cape police said on Thursday.
Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said the four escaped on Wednesday afternoon. They are currently serving life sentences at Wellington Correctional Facility and were appearing in court for other pending cases.
“It is alleged that upon their arrival back at the prison, they overpowered a correctional services official and managed to escape.
Booi Matanzima, 34, tried to hijack a vehicle belonging to one of the correctional services members and a fight ensued,” Fatyela said.
“He was shot in the lower body and was taken to hospital under police guard. The three others, Sthembiso Phakule, 34, Eric Dumezweni, 31 and Sive Dwenga, 25 were arrested not far away from Wellington.”
He said police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol with four rounds of ammunition. Additional charges of escaping from lawful custody and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition will be added when the four are back in court, he said.
ANA