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C-Max: Priest shot in error
23/11/2006 15:58 - (SA)
Johannesburg - North West police shot and wounded a reverend during a search for the man who escaped from Pretoria's C-Max prison at the weekend.
Captain Elsabe Augoustides said on Thursday the shooting happened when police received information about the whereabouts of a man resembling Annanias Mathe, 29, who escaped on Saturday from one of the most-secure prisons in the country.
The Rev Motlotlo Rabotape, from the AME church in Winterveldt, apparently was seen near a school at Madidi in Klipgat on Monday.
Augoustides said: "An African male wearing a Bafana Bafana jersey and carrying a black leather bag, allegedly filled with firearms, was spotted.
"When police tried to stop the man, he ran away. The task team fired a warning shot and the escapee was arrested. He had a bullet wound to the left leg," said.
Thought they were bogus police
The man was identified as Rabotape, who said he fled from police because they were driving in an unmarked vehicle and were wearing plain clothes.
He thought the people confronting him could be posing as police officials and intended harming him."
Rabotape was taken to hospital and a case of attempted murder was opened.
Meanwhile, Mpumalanga police thought on Thursday morning that they had found Mathe after they arrested a man for possession of dagga at Komatipoort.
However the man, who strongly resembling the Mozambican national, didn't have a particular identification mark, said national police spokesperson Sally de Beer.
By Thursday, it was still unclear how Mathe, 29, had managed to escape from the prison.
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour said an agent from the national intelligence agency would head an investigation into the escape.
Hardened criminals
Mathe faced 51 charges, including murder, attempted murder, rape, hijacking and armed robbery.
He was detained in A6 section, which houses hardened criminals regarded as escape risks.
Initial reports said it appeared that the "Houdini" stripped and covered his entire body with petroleum jelly to climb out of a window measuring 20cm x 60cm.
- SAPA
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