KOUGA – A surge in prisoner escapes from police custody has placed the spotlight firmly on failing detention facilities in the Eastern Cape, with local police stations such as Patensie and Thornhill emerging as key points of concern.
According to Yusuf Cassim, Democratic Alliance Shadow MEC for Community Safety, more than 160 prisoners have escaped from police custody in the Eastern Cape over the past three financial years, with a further 30 already recorded this year.
Cassim alleges that these escapes expose serious failures in supervision, compliance, and consequence management within the provincial safety system.
“Accused criminals are walking free while families are left anxious, and communities lose faith in the South African Police Service’s ability to protect them,” said Cassim.
“Victims are forced to relive trauma, residents are left wondering who is back on their streets, and honest police officers are undermined by weak oversight and poor consequence management,” he added.
Cassim said that the DA has written to the Community Safety MEC, Xolile Nqatha, demanding urgent intervention and a clear accountability plan to prevent further escapes.
“This includes immediate reporting on disciplinary outcomes, stricter compliance enforcement at the station level, and decisive action against negligence,” said Cassim.
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In response to a parliamentary question, Nqatha confirmed that 43 prisoners escaped in 2022/23, rising sharply to 58 in 2023/24, followed by 36 in 2024/25, and 30 more already in the current financial year.
Despite rearrests, a disturbing number remain at large, including 22 in 2022/23, 26 in 2023/24, 17 in 2024/25, and 17 this year.
According to a document released by the Department of Community Safety, locally, one prisoner escaped at the Patensie Police Station in 2023/24 and one more in 2024/25.
The Department further acknowledged that escapes are often linked to wrongful release, transportation failures, and official negligence.
Cassim said that an oversight report confirmed that many stations cannot use their holding cells because they are unsafe or unfit for purpose, forcing detainees to be transported to other stations at additional cost and with increased escape risk.
He further said that there are no holding cells at Thornhill.
“The Legislature has formally recommended that SAPS urgently assist stations in establishing proper holding cells,” said Cassim.
“Eastern Cape residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and confident that those arrested will remain in custody.”
According to the data released by the Department of Community Safety, following the prisoner escapes, disciplinary action has been taken against 95 officials from 2022 to 2026.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said that of escapees still at large, priority manhunts are focused on those considered high-risk, with their current recapture rate at approximately 49%.
She said that escapes most often occur during prisoner movement for court, medical, or transfer reasons while some incidents are reported during detention of suspects.
Regarding Thornhill Police Station, Gantana said that it is currently housed in a leased property that does not have holding cells.
As a result, she said that arrestees are held at nearby stations.
Gantana further said that there have been two escapes from Thornhill in three years.
“There are plans in place with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to identify a suitable plot to build a new police station with proper holding cells,” said Gantana.
She said that when a dangerous prisoner escapes, communities are notified through various channels, including media releases and local alerts.
“Preventive measures under implementation include enhanced security, upgraded training, strict disciplinary action for negligence, and audits of all holding facilities,” concluded Gantana.
She said that they are committed to resolving systemic issues, and they appeal to the public to report any information to Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
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