By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Kauna Shikwambi, has confirmed the re-arrest of two of the six prisoners who escaped from Windhoek Central Prison on Monday morning.
Shikwambi identified the duo as Gavin Beukes and Deon Engelbrecht.
They were arrested yesterday morning at Ngoma Border Post at Katima Mulilo.
The four inmates still at large are bank robbery suspects, Plan Ndebele, 31, Nesias Matole, 33, Mthulisi Sibanda, 27, (all Zimbabwe nationals) and a murder suspect, Moris Mazila Sibitwani, 29.
The six inmates who were apparently kept in one cell, allegedly escaped after cutting open burglar bars and a fence.
They are suspected of having received outside help in securing the saw they used in the process.
A local English daily newspaper yesterday reported that the six moved across the roof and jumped off close to the fence surrounding the prison and then cut through the razor wire fence, which is the first of two fences around the prison premises.
The paper further reported that having escaped through that fence, an electrified fence still stood between the six escapees and their freedom.
Prisons and Correctional Services spokesperson, Ignatius Mainga, said the six escapees threw blankets over the electric fence to avoid electric shock.
All six escapees are charged with serious cases which include murder, rape and robbery.
Members of the public are warned not to attempt to arrest them because they are considered dangerous and armed.
Shikwambi issued a strong warning to the escapees still at large to surrender to the police immediately.
She was positive that law enforcement agencies would arrest all suspects no matter how long it will take.
“Investigations are continuing and we are positive that we will arrest them all. Our officers are hard at work and they will never rest until they arrest all inmates,” said Shikwambi.
Gavin Beukes, 26, his younger brother Sylvester (23), and Stoney Raymond Neidel (30) are among the four suspects accused of killing eight people at Kareeboomvloer Farm in the Kalkrand area on March 4, 2005.
Sibitwani, 29, is alleged to have murdered his 20-year-old girlfriend, Happy Kabajani at Katima Mulilo on April 19, 2003 and was arrested the following day. His case has been before the High Court since September this year.
Engelbrecht is accused of the rape and murder of a 14-year-old boy in Windhoek in December 2003.
Meanwhile, police are still looking for Itai Mashamba who escaped from the TB hospital in Windhoek on July 13, this year.
It is alleged that a man dressed in police uniform approached the officer guarding Mashamba and purported to have been sent by the police to collect him.
He was supposed to appear in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court together with the other Zimbabwean nationals who allegedly robbed the Standard Bank’s Gobabis and Okahandja branches in September this year but escaped from police custody. Ndebele, Matole and Sibanda have now followed suit.
The four are charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The gang is alleged to have walked into Standard Bank in Gobabis and ordered everybody inside to lie down.
They allegedly jumped over the counter before getting away with N$150ǟ