Hundreds of escaped prisoners remain on the run

More than 200 escaped detainees are still on the run across South Africa, and questions are being asked as to how.

Parliament’s Select Committee on Security and Justice has heard that 284 detainees escaped between April and December last year.

Only 82 have been rearrested, meaning 202 criminals remain unaccounted for.

Most escapes occurred from police station holding cells and court facilities, not correctional centres.

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Nicholas Gottsal, a member of the National Council of Provinces for the Democratic Alliance, asked for the numbers in Parliament last year.

"I questioned the actual numbers in our committee meeting yesterday. I asked again because I was given completely different numbers."

Gottsal says that according to the Parliamentary reply, 24 escapes remain completely unaccounted for.

"When I put this to the Colonel Lieutenant, she admitted that they actually don't have the processes or technology to properly account for all the escapes across the country."

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There are also concerns about manual data capturing, which delays accurate reporting and re-arrest tracking.

According to Gottsal, what is needed is a biometric system linking SAPS, correctional services and the Justice Department.

“Because that is where the problem lies. At the moment, Home Affairs is working very hard, I'm told to get these three departments to tap into that, but there seems to be no urgency.”

Gottsal says the blame lies with a lack of discipline and consequence management within SAPS.

He highlights the case of an Athlone-based sergeant who remains in his position, despite being accused of smuggling drugs into cells at Pollsmoor prison.

"You might be smuggling drugs today, but tomorrow, you might forget to lock a gate."

To listen to Gottsal in conversation with CapeTalk's Africa Melane, use the audio player below: