Authorities in South Africa have launched a manhunt for two rapists arrested for rape who escaped from a prison in the country’s Eastern Cape province.
The two rapists, Siyabulela Khohliso and Athini Mzingelwa, have not been seen since yesterday at the Ngqeleni prison gymnasium.
Siyabulela Khohliso, serving a 10-year sentence for rape, and Athini Nothi Mzingelwa, serving eight years for rape.
“We have launched an investigation into the incident. But our focus now is to recapture the two men,” the prison said in a statement.
The prison authorities have also asked the public to inform the nearest police station if they see the men.
Department of correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the inmates escaped on Thursday afternoon at about 3.30pm from the centre’s sports field.
“Additional resources have been deployed in support of the emergency team of correctional services working with the SA Police Service to hunt down the two inmates.”
Nxumalo said the department was investigating how they escaped.
“Members of the public are urged to contact the nearest police station should they come into contact with the escapees.”
The escape from prison by the men comes after the country’s talk about the escape of a criminal, Thabo Bester, who claimed to be dead last year before he was re-arrested in Tanzania this month.