The importance of community involvement has again come to light with a local neighbourhood watch helping police track down a prisoner who escaped from Helderstroom prison, outside Caledon.
Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), confirmed inmate Jakob September had been successfully rearrested in the Overberg area at approximately 21:00 on Saturday following a coordinated search operation.
“September escaped from the dairy team around 11:00 on Saturday while performing work duties at the animal-grazing area within the prison grounds of Helderstroom Correctional Centre,” he confirmed. The 44-year-old male was serving a life sentence imposed in 2011 for rape and murder.
According to Nxumalo the department’s emergency-support team, together with security officials and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Villiersdorp and Caledon, immediately activated a joint operation to ensure the swift apprehension of the escapee.
The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen (Adv) TE Patekile thanked the members of the Police Drone Unit, Visible Policing, Public Order Police, K9 Unit, private security and the DCS for their commitment in ensuring the re-arrest of the inmate.
He described the search as follows: “Hampered by difficult terrain and darkness the SAPS Drone Unit was mobilised to assist the members on the ground with the search. Extensive search efforts paid off when thermal imaging technology was used by the Drone Unit to locate the inmate and he was re-arrested. Police members went into the river and arrested the inmate.”
Nxumalo said the DCS remained committed to maintaining the safe and secure custody of inmates and extended its appreciation to all cluster partners and the local agricultural network for their cooperation and decisive action that led to the rapid rearrest.
ALSO READ: Four detainees escape Wynberg court, police launch manhunt
