Mathe security to be increased

2008-06-07 22:06

Johannesburg - Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour interviewed escapee Annanias Mathe at the Pretoria prison on Saturday.

Balfour was there to find out the circumstances of Mathe's latest attempt to escape from custody on Friday.

Afterwards, Balfour's office said in a statement that Mathe, a highly-trained soldier, freed one of his hands from handcuffs and attacked a guard at his cell. He was still in leg irons.

However, the guard overpowered him, called for help and had Mathe back in his cell "within minutes".

Balfour described the incident as a "small slip-up" and expressed confidence in the prison officials guarding Mathe. The incident was being investigated by the head of the prison.

He said Mathe would have had to pass through seven guarded gates to escape from the prison.

Nonetheless, the already tight security measures around him would be further strengthened.

Balfour slammed as "absolute lies" earlier reports that Mathe was caught 50 metres from his cell.

He called on commentators on correctional services to refrain from demoralising prison officials.

He said an overwhelming majority of prison staff were dedicated and good workers and helped reduce escapes by 14% between 2006 and 2007.

Mathe, from Mozambique, was the first person to escape from Pretoria's C-Max high security prison in 2006.

He faces more than 70 charges including housebreaking, theft, indecent assault, robbery and attempted rape.

Nine correctional services officials were suspended at the time of his escape. He was recaptured in 2007.

- SAPA