MOPANI – The Mopani police have re-arrested another dangerous criminal, the third of the seven who escaped from the prison cells in the area two weeks ago.

According to the spokesperson of the police in Mopani, Capt Moatche Ngoepe, Dankie Damburi (22) was re-arrested on Monday night, seven days after his escaping from the Namakgale Police Station.

Damburi of Nwamaranga village near Giyani and another prisoner, Sam Ndlovu (38) of Namakagale Township, used a sharp instrument to cut through the roof of the cell in which they were kept, last Monday morning, November 10 at about 02:30, and escaped.

Ndlovu, who was re-arrested a few hours after the incident, was serving a 10-year sentence for the theft of a motor vehicle. His case was finalized in the Namakgale Regional court a week before his escape from prison. The other five awaiting-trial prisoners escaped from the Culcutta Police Station cells on Sunday afternoon, November 9, at about 17:00.

Those who escaped from the Culcutta prison are Lucky Mathebula (23), who was arrested for rape and armed robbery, Agripa Mahalule (22) who was arrested for rape and common robbery, Wandile Thehle (20) who was arrested for armed robbery, Musa Phosa who was arrested for rape and Madala Charles Lewele (23), arrested for rape and armed robbery.

According to the police statement, Lucky Mathebula was re-arrested two days after the incident. The police have appealed to anyone who has information that may lead to the arrest of the criminals to contact Capt John Ngwenya at Tel 082 565 8438.

The police have described the criminals as extremely dangerous and warned people not to confront them in case they see any of them, instead they should report at the nearest police station. According to the police statement, the Area Commissioner has established a Special Task Team to investigate how the sharp instruments got into the cells.