The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for urgent accountability after yet another embarrassing escape from Pollsmoor Prison.
Two weeks ago, Thembalethu Daba allegedly impersonated another inmate and walked out of the Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility undetected. Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has since confirmed that Daba was re-arrested.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a similar scandal earlier this year. In April, sentenced inmate Xolani Du Preez vanished while attending court and remained at large for nine months before being recaptured in Table View.
DA Member of Parliament Janho Engelbrecht said the repeated lapses point to corruption within the prison system rather than simple negligence.
“If true, this was not a mistake. It was a brazen act requiring someone to process, hand over, and present the inmate in court under a false name. This points to deliberate collusion by correctional services officials,” Engelbrecht said.
He insisted that those found complicit must face criminal prosecution.
“We demand a full investigation, and anyone guilty of aiding an escape must be prosecuted. There must be strict accountability to ensure this blatant disregard for protocol never happens again.”
Pollsmoor, one of South Africa’s most notorious prisons, has long been plagued by overcrowding, security breaches, and corruption allegations. The DA says the latest scandal underscores the urgent need for reform in the correctional services sector