‘Leave or we will kill you’: Inmate allegedly threatened before prison escape

‘Leave or we will kill you’: Inmate allegedly threatened before prison escape

Pretoria – Convicted inmate Edward Khomotso Madiba was allegedly threatened with death before escaping from a North West correctional facility, the Madlanga Commission heard on Thursday. 

Correctional Services national commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale said Madiba told him he was threatened by people who wanted to prevent him from identifying officials allegedly involved in his previous escape. 

“They then approached him to say ‘either you leave or we are going to kill you’ and that’s how he’s saying they assisted him to escape so that they break that line of him mentioning their names during court proceedings,” Thobakgale said. 

Thobakgale was testifying at the commission at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, where he was questioned about Madiba’s latest escape and the alleged involvement of correctional services officials. 

Madiba escaped from the Rooigrond Maximum Correctional Centre near Mahikeng on 6 September, prompting the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to launch a manhunt. 

He was recaptured three days later at a flat in Brits. 

According to preliminary findings by the DCS, Madiba escaped after cutting through the burglar bars on the door of his prison cell. 

He had been kept in a single cell because he had previously escaped from Rooigrond in 2022. 

At the time of his latest escape, Madiba was serving a 20-year sentence for robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm and ammunition, kidnapping and parole violation. 

He has since been transferred to the C-Max high-security section of Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria. 

Eight correctional services officials have been suspended over allegations that they assisted Madiba in his escape. 

Thobakgale told the commission that he personally interviewed Madiba after his recapture to establish how he allegedly received assistance from correctional officers during his 2022 and 2026 escapes. 

He said Madiba had been involved in court proceedings relating to his previous escape and had started identifying officials allegedly involved. 

It was during this process that Madiba was allegedly threatened with death. 

Thobakgale said the alleged threats were intended to prevent Madiba from continuing to name officials during the court proceedings.  

The commissioner also testified about the influence that wealthy and powerful inmates can have within the correctional services system. 

He said inmates sometimes attempt to corrupt lower-ranking officials to facilitate activities inside correctional facilities, including the smuggling of contraband. 

Commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned whether such influence could extend to senior officials, including the national commissioner. 

“Inmates that wield a lot of influence and have lots of money could target even the national commissioner,” Madlanga said. 

Thobakgale agreed that senior officials could potentially be approached or influenced by inmates. 

He cited convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester as an example of an inmate who had repeatedly attempted to secure his personal attention. 

“I’ve always referred him to their complaints and requests processes and always insisted that it is better if a representation is put in writing and it is then referred to accordingly,” Thobakgale said. 

Thobakgale said he generally avoids one-on-one engagements with inmates. 

He said direct engagements would be considered when he needed information from an inmate that could potentially implicate correctional services officials, using Madiba’s escape as an example. 

Picture: Facebook/ Department of Correctional Services 

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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi

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