The remaining escapee of the seven prisoners who broke out of the Kutama Sinthumule Maximum Security Prison outside Louis Trichardt in October last year, has been re-arrested and is behind bars again.
The 30-year-old Raphael Nyota from Harare in Zimbabwe was re-arrested during an intelligence-led operations that was conducted during the early hours of Friday, 7 September.
Nyota was apprehended near the Ivory Park taxi rank in Gauteng. This brings to seven the total number of convicts re-arrested after escaping from prison on 27 October last year. Nyota was imprisoned for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The other six escapees who were re-arrested earlier were Chris Faku (37), Jabulani Isaac Mahlangu (32) from Pretoria, Ntshengedzeni Manukha (26) from Thohoyandou, Ntshavheni Thomas Munyai (30) from Riverside, Justice Makamo (28) from Zimbabwe and Phathutshedzo Namadodzi (34) from Thohoyandou.
At the time of going to press, Nyota was awaiting a court appearance before the Louis Trichardt Magistrates Court on a charge of escaping from lawful custody.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba commended the police and other role players for a job well done in re-arresting all seven escapees.