MOPANI – The police in Mopani have made a major breakthrough against crime this week, when they re-arrested a dangerous criminal on Tuesday morning.

According to the policespokesperson in the area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, Simon Makwarela (38) of Nchabeleng village escaped from the Matatshe Prison two years ago. Makwarela was serving an 18-year term of imprisonment for stock theft, rape and theft of motor vehicles, when he escaped. According to the police statement, the police had received a tip-off from concerned community members that Makwarela was hiding somewhere in the Sekgosese area.

On Tuesday morning they proceeded to the house in which he was hiding at the Lamondokop Village and arrested him. According to the police statement, an unlicensed 9mm pistol was found in his possession at the time of his arrest.

In a statement that was released by the police early this week, they praised the community for not harbouring the criminal.