Teen’s escape from court cells ignites concerns about security measures

Ten escapes have been reported from holding cells at courts across the Western Cape in recent weeks, with the latest incident at the Bellville Magistrate’s Court.

The 17-year-old slipped from custody before making his court appearance on November 19. He was re-arrested days later in Durbanville.

Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed the escape.

“Bellville police registered an escape from lawful custody case following the escape of a juvenile on Wednesday, November 19. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. Police are following up all leads in a bid to re-arrest the juvenile.”

Manuel was arrested on Saturday in Durbanville.

This comes after six trial-awaiting prisoners aged between 21 and 34 escaped from Wynberg Magistrate's Court holding cells in October.

Police later identified four of the Wynberg escapees as Linda Soyeza, Mphumeleli Lufutha, Ismail George, and Tawfeeq Damon, all facing charges including illegal possession of firearms, housebreaking, and outstanding warrants of arrest. 

A week after that incident, three more suspects broke free from Strand Magistrate's Court. Police identified the trio as Denver Pietersen, 34, Glenville Jantjies, 22, and Rastum Alfestus, 25. 

Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services received a briefing from the management of Pollsmoor Correctional Facility, including on a violent incident at Pollsmoor prison recently where three inmates were killed and two guards injured. 

The committee noted that when it embarked on a walkabout that included the remand detainees admission system, they noted the absence of security features, such as CCTV cameras and panic buttons, at the remand detainees' facility.

“Had those features been there, according to the committee, the inmates would not have even attempted to apply the plan they tried, which resulted in the fight between them and the correctional officials, and the death of three inmates in the end,” chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng said. 

The committee heard an investigation into the incident is 90% complete. 

“Although the committee welcomed the report about the investigation, it expressed its unacceptance of the management’s attribution of the erroneous escape of the inmates to the failure of the biometric fingerprinting device and the nonexistence of ink for the manual fingerprint option.

“The committee highlighted the suspicion of the involvement of correctional officials in all forms of crime that riddle the facility.”  

The chairperson called for a strong and effective strategy to change that situation and for consequence management for any responsible correctional official. Ramolobeng also urged management to fill all the funded vacancies at the facility.

Cape Times