Police in the North West are implicated in helping prisoners and detainees escape. This is according to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province.
The party said it is concerned by the number of escapees and with members of the police force implicated in aiding and abetting prisoners.
DA North West Spokesperson on Community Safety and Transport Management Freddy Sonakile said more than 44 police officials had been identified to have aided the escape of criminal detainees in the province.
He said this was in response to questions submitted by the DA in the North West Legislature.
"The SAPS detailed that 206 detainees escaped from police custody while awaiting trial or sentencing since 2019. However, of these, only 144 detainees have been apprehended, to date, while 62 suspects are still on the run.
“These are suspects alleged to have committed a variety of heinous crimes ranging from murder and attempted murder to the illegal possession of firearms and robbery," Sonakile said.
This comes more than a week since 12 prisoners disarmed and escaped from a police station holding cell in Mpumalanga province. Two of these were re-arrested around Komatipoort as they tried to flee the country into Mozambique, according to the police in the province.
Sonakile said there had been a growing trend in recent months of detainees managing to escape from holding cells or while in hospital or during transit between court appearances.
He said most of the jailbreaks took place from the Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Boitekong and Mahikeng police stations.
In March this year, four dangerous prisoners reportedly escaped from Rooigrond Prison, near Mahikeng, in the North West, while in May 2022, the North West police launched a manhunt for five awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped from the Zeerust police station holding cells.
"The DA condemns the involvement of these police officers who aided and abetted the escape of criminal detainees. We will also demand that the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello, Kwena brief the committee in detail on the status of the disciplinary action instituted against these implicated 44 police officers, whether they have been suspended, and whether they have been criminally charged.
"It is a real pity that the work of many dedicated police officers in the fight against crime is being undermined by rogue elements within the ranks of the SAPS," he said.
The Star