UNLESS Sibusiso Gumede conjures up another miraculous escape plan, he may spend the rest of his days at Qalakabusha prison near Empangeni.
In February, Gumede attended the prison’s visitation area wearing plain clothes underneath his prison uniform to meet with his sister, whom he claims was unaware of his intention to escape.
During the visit, he managed to slip off his uniform unnoticed in the crowd. Dumping the uniform, he strolled out of the prison with a group of visitors.
With a charge sheet already filled with at least seven other offences dating as far back as 2010, including assault, robbery and escaping from lawful custody, the 28-year-old was serving a combined sentence of 35 years at the time of his escape.
He was arrested three days later in Mtubatuba, through a joint operation between the Department of Correctional Services’ emergency team and the SAPS.
A day after his arrest, he appeared at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court, where he was remanded in custody until he appeared in court again on Wednesday.
Gumede pleaded guilty to his latest charge of escaping from lawful custody, and the case has been remanded to 9 March for sentencing.
The Department of Correctional services for KZN confirmed the escape, but declined to comment on the incident.
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