A convicted mobster, Dumisani Mthethwa, escaped from Waterval Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, prompting a large-scale manhunt by Durban police.
Story Summary:
- Dumisani Mthethwa escaped while working in the prison garden.
- Authorities have launched an investigation into potential security lapses.
- Mthethwa’s escape is reminiscent of the Thabo Bester prison break.
Durban police launch manhunt for dangerous fugitive
Mthethwa, who was serving a 15-year sentence for robbery with aggravating circumstances, fled while assigned to work in the facility’s garden.
The exact details of his escape are still under investigation, but early indications suggest that the plan was premeditated and exploited weaknesses in the prison’s security protocols.
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“The circumstances of his escape are under investigation, and we are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to apprehend him,” a spokesperson from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) stated.
A comprehensive inquiry has been launched to determine if there were any security lapses that enabled Mthethwa’s escape.
This incident has drawn comparisons to the escape of Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer and rapist, who infamously faked his death and broke out of the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
Bester’s escape involved a complex plot where a body was smuggled into the prison to stage his death, allowing him to evade authorities for nearly a year before being recaptured in Tanzania.
Mthethwa’s escape has raised similar concerns about the security measures in place within South Africa’s correctional facilities.
The DCS has urged the public not to approach Mthethwa if he is spotted and to report any information on his whereabouts to the nearest police station or correctional facility.
As the manhunt continues, authorities are focused on recapturing Mthethwa and ensuring he is brought back into custody.
The investigation into how he managed to escape is ongoing, with more details expected to emerge in the coming days.
