North West prison escapees still at large

North West Police and Correctional Services, say they are still searching for 8 dangerous prison escapees awaiting trial.

They escaped from the Mogwase Correctional Centre in Rustenburg on Friday, Jun 17, 2016.

Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela says the escapees have committed serious offences.

That the 10 serious offenders had escaped just after midnight, the detainees;  Oscar Sibiya, Luckymore Mutasa, Mandla Mokoena, Emmanuel Banda Hobe, Chris Sithole, Knowledge Benny Machesa, Alfonso Alfred Mpofu and Cleophus Tapiwa escaped while in detention for various offences such as murder, robbery aggravating, house robbery, attempted murder, burglary as well as illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.  The said cases were registered and under investigation at Zeerust, Mooinooi, Hartbeesfontein, Brits, Rustenburg police stations.  One of them, Knowledge Benny Machesa, was also facing various charges on cases that were registered at Bela-bela in Limpopo.

The police managed to re-arrest two of the escapees, Lloyd Munungu and Joseph Mlambo in Koster  on Tuesday, 21 June 2016.  They appeared in the Mogwase Magistrates’ Court on a charge of escape from lawful custody on Thursday, 23 June 2016. They will appear in court again on Tuesday, 19 July 2016.

The community is urged to assist with information that may lead to the re-arrest of the eight escapees contacting Ezekiel Rakodi on 079 881 9905.