Cape Town police are on the hunt for a detainee who allegedly escaped through the roof of a prisoners’ truck while en route to Pollsmoor prison, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, the alleged escape occurred around 4:05pm on Thursday, 12 December.
‘The driver of the truck was alerted by members of the public of the escape attempt near a railway crossing in Muizenberg,’ said Pojie.
‘The driver and his partner secured the roof, and upon checking the detainees at Pollsmoor, they discovered that there was one prisoner short.’
Pojie added that it was determined that the escapee, Shepart Chfutuku, was detained for a robbery that was perpetrated in Gordon’s Bay in October this year.
Muizenberg police subsequently registered an escape out of lawful custody, and police are appealing to anyone with information regarding Chfutuku to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or make use of the MySAPS mobile app anonymously.
Police insiders told News24 that it is believed the escapee, who is considered dangerous and allegedly linked to a syndicate of armed robbers targeting supermarkets and retail stores, lives in Khayelitsha but could be in hiding in Mfuleni or Nyanga.
The publication also reported that, per the SAPS annual report, 438 people escaped police custody in 345 incidents during the 2023/24 period.
Additionally, both Gauteng and the Western Cape were recorded as the provinces with the most escapees, with 68 each, followed by Kwa-Zulu Natal (66) and the North West (58).
144 of the 438 escapees were re-arrested within 24 hours of the incidents.
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Picture: Die Burger / Gallo Images
