Escapees: One rearrested, three still on the run, Tzaneen

South African Police Service

Escapees: One rearrested, three still on the run, Tzaneen
Escapees: One rearrested, three still on the run, Tzaneen. Photo: SAPS

One of the four escapees Abel Modiba aged 31 from Motjeteng village near Lenyenye outside Tzaneen, was re arrested at Rwanda Village in the Nwamitwa area outside Tzaneen during a sting joint operation composed of the Haenertsburg Saps members and the Tzaneen Cluster Tracking Team on 17 November 2018.

The manhunt for the three remaining escapees is still underway.

This re arrest emanated from an incident which occurred on the 14th November 2018 in the afternoon, when the prisoners were allegedly being transported from Haenertsburg Police Station outside Tzaneen to Polokwane and they jumped from the back of a moving Police Van in the City of Polokwane at corner Hospital and Landros Maree streets.

One prisoner who was initially arrested for house robbery committed in the Haenertsburg Policing area, was re-arrested shortly after the escape. The remaining escapees who were arrested for different crimes including house robberies and armed robberies which they committed in the Haenertsburg Policing precinct, disappeared and the manhunt ensued.

The remaining escapees are identified as follows:

Thomas Nkuna aged 34 from Rwanda village in the Nwamitoa area outside Tzaneen and also staying in Wisani village in the Mhlaba-Cross area outside Tzaneen.
Jeffrey Nkuna aged 27 from Rwanda village in the Nwamitoa area outside Tzaneen.
George Nkuna aged 19 from Wisani village in the Mhlaba-Cross area outside Tzaneen.

The case of escaping from lawful custody was opened in this regard.

The re arrested suspect will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate Court soon for escaping from lawful custody.
Anyone with information that can lead to the re-arrest of these three remaining escapees, may contact Colonel Linky Mathebula on 064 756 8218 or Detective Warrant Officer Andrew Ngamuni on 082 414 3031 or the crime stop number 0860010111 or the crime Line SMS 32211 or the nearest Police Station.

The Police investigations into the circumstances of the escape are still continuing.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

Prisoners jump out of police van and escape, Polokwane

SOURCESouth African Police Service