The North West police spokesperson, Sam Tselanyane, says these six suspects will then again appear at the Vryburg Magistrate’s court on 1 July 2019 for possible sentencing after pleading guilty to the escape charge. He says this group was re-arrested after a 72-hour action plan was activated by the police that roped in skilful members of the South African Police Services (SAPS), which included detectives, amongst others. 

OFM News previously reported that amongst those who were re-arrested by the police, was Oageng Senye (24) whose father handed him over to the police in Vryburg on Saturday, 15 June 2019.

Tselanyane says these suspects were initially arrested for various offences that included robbery with aggravated circumstances, housebreaking and possession of suspected stolen property.

These prisoners escaped from lawful custody on the evening of Friday, 14 June 2019, from Pudimoe Police Station. Tselanyane says following their escape from custody, a 72-hour action plan, comprising of skilful personal including detectives, numerous arrests were made in a short period of time.

Mosimanegape Mohutsana (20) is another escapee who was re-arrested in Vryburg on Sunday, 16 June 2019, after the police were informed of his whereabouts. Tselanyane says on Monday 17 June 2019, a tip-off led to tracking down the third escapee, Lawrence Ntwagae (28), who was hiding at a place called Colour-Blocking just outside Vryburg.

The fourth escapee, Sipho Mohutsiwa (24), was arrested on Tuesday 18 June 2019 at about 20:30 after the police were informed of a suspicious person walking alongside the railway line near Vryburg. “Upon seeing the police the escapee, who looked very exhausted and hungry at the time, did not even try to flee but surrendered.”

He further adds that Tumelo Setlhodi (37) handed himself over to the police in Pudimoe on Wednesday 19 June 2019 at about 11:30, while the sixth escapee, Hendrick Pampier (36), was re-arrested on Thursday 20 June 2019 after the police were informed of the place where he was hiding in Colridge, Vryburg.

The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Baile Motswenyane, has since lauded Pudimoe Detectives. Of note is Warrant Officer Peter Mooketsi of Vryburg Crime Prevention and Vryburg Crime Intelligence. “All six accused are expected to appear before the Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 24 June 2019, on a charge of escape from lawful custody and the Investigation into the matter continues,” Tselanyane concluded.

OFM News