On Monday, Dumisani Mthethwa, an inmate at Waterval Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal, escaped while tending to the facility’s garden. Confirming the incident, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) reported that Mthethwa was part of the work ‘span’ tasked with garden duties.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo indicated that the circumstances of Mthethwa’s escape are under active investigation.
Mthethwa, who was sentenced on 20 March 2019, is serving a 15-year term for robbery with aggravating circumstances. A detailed enquiry is underway to identify any lapses in security protocols that could have facilitated the escape.
The DCS is collaborating closely with other law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend Mthethwa and return him to custody. Nxumalo has urged the public not to approach Mthethwa if spotted, but to immediately notify the nearest correctional facility or police station with any relevant information.
Judge Rasigamani Bhika has ruled in favour of the media, allowing Mthethwa’s name and picture to be published. This move aims to assist in his swift recapture by increasing public awareness.
This case mirrors some of South Africa’s most widely reported prison escapes, bringing to mind the high-profile breakout of Thabo Bester from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May 2022.
The escape of Mthethwa and historical instances like Bester’s highlight significant issues within the Department of Correctional Services, including corruption.
Pieter Groenewald, the new Minister of Correctional Services, emphasized the need to address these systemic weaknesses, starting with an investigation into the conditions that permitted such escapes.
