'Probe Houdini escape again'
16/03/2007 12:42  - (SA)  

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'Houdini' report causes row Houdini escape 'needs new probe' 'Houdini' report 'lacks answers' Limping 'Houdini' in the dock

Cape Town - The Inkatha Freedom Party on Friday reaffirmed its call for an independent judicial inquiry into the escape last year of Annanias Mathe from Pretoria's C-Max Prison.

This follows the African National Congress parliamentary caucus decision on Thursday to express its full confidence in the correctional services department and agencies, that probed Mathe's escape.

The ANC caucus also said a judicial commission of enquiry was not necessary.

The National Assembly's correctional services committee, chaired by Dennis Bloem of the ANC, last week unanimously rejected the findings of the task team as vague, and called for the appointment of a retired judge to re-investigate the matter.

Seaton said in a statement on Friday the IFP respected the ANC's point of view on the matter, but believed it had erred in reaching its conclusion.

He said: "In the interest of justice we need to explore all avenues to find the truth.

"The investigating team presented an incomplete and inadequate report on the escape to the portfolio committee and therefore we cannot let this issue simply rest."

Correctional services minister Ngconde Balfour and the department owed the public some answers, and therefore the IFP reconfirmed its call for an independent investigation to go ahead, said Seaton.

- SAPA

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