GIYANI - The Mopani police have managed to re-arrest all but four awaiting trial prisoners who escaped from the Giyani police station cells last Friday morning at about 04:00. According to the police spokesperson in the area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the suspects had allegedly used a sharp iron bar to open a hole in the wall of the cell in which they were kept.

The first one, Donald Makhubele (29), was re-arrested on Saturday morning in the bushes surrounding Giyani town. Makhubele was arrested for murder and rape. The remaining three were arrested in the same bushes on Sunday afternoon.

Those who were re-arrested on Sunday are Israel Magaiva (26), Robert Makhubela (24) and Justice Shibambu (21). According to the police statement, Magaiva was arrested for the possession of unlicensed ammunition.

Robert Makhubela’s arrest came after he was allegedly linked with two cases of attempted murder while Shivambu was arrested for theft of a cellphone. The police have revealed that they have established an internal investigation with a view to determining how the iron bar got into the cells. The suspects were still to appear in court for their escaping from prison, at the time of going to press.