GEORGE NEWS - The freedom of three prisoners who escaped from custody while in transit on Monday afternoon 21 September, was short-lived when they were all re-arrested mere hours after their escape.
The escapees, all remand detainees, were initially placed in custody on charges that include murder, robbery, housebreaking and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, they were being transported from the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court back to George Correctional Services when they escaped.
They allegedly forcefully opened a roof panel of the vehicle and jumped from the moving truck that they were being transported in.
The incident took place on the N2 highway near Glentana at approximately 16:30. By 18:15 George Herald received reports that all three had been apprehended. At this stage it is unclear how many other prisoners were in transit at the time, but only the three managed to escape.
Police searching for the escapees in the rural area near Glentana.
Photo: Etienne de Kock
One of them was arrested shortly after the escape and the others were arrested in the Hoogekraal area.
"Great Brak River police has opened a case of Escape from Lawful Custody against the three detainees between the ages of 27 and 30," said Pojie.
"Members immediately called for reinforcement from George and Mossel Bay with the activation of the Eden Cluster Crime Combatting Team and other specialised units within the police who were joined by neighbourhood and farm watch volunteers.
"They immediately launched a search and managed to re-arrest the detainees within hours after their escape. The success was due to the joint effort by all involved, including two private individuals who availed their drones to trace two of the escapees," he said.
Police searching for the escapees in the rural area near Glentana.
Among a flood of comments on George Herald's Facebook page after the news broke, an eyewitness who was driving behind the police vehicle at the time of the escape, said it was like a scene from a movie.
"We were right behind them when we saw the people jumping off the vehicle and rolling on the highway right in front of our car! It was very, very scary! It was like a movie scene and I'm very happy to hear they were caught so quickly," she posted.
Acting Eden Cluster Commander, Brig Phumzile Cetyana, led the search and commended all involved for their dedication in the apprehension of the escapees. He gave special thanks to the private drone operators whose contribution was vital in tracing two of the suspects.
Drone footage of the scene shortly after all three prisoners were re-arrested. Photo: Etienne de Kock
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