Johannesburg – Authorities have captured a convicted murderer who escaped from a maximum-security prison in Mozambique during the violent protests that erupted after the elections last December, now found in Sandton, Johannesburg.
In the turmoil that followed the disputed elections in Mozambique, Nelson Simiao Massango escaped along with over a thousand inmates.
Reports reveal that Massango received a minimum 20-year sentence for murder in 2015.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Border Policing High-Density Team has been actively monitoring and tracking individuals who might have crossed into South Africa.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the fugitive was apprehended at a car rental agency in Sandton.
“During the investigation, we discovered that he could be linked to multiple vehicle theft cases in Gauteng, where he rented 4×4 bakkies, smuggled them into Mozambique, and facilitated their sale there,” Brigadier Mathe stated.
The International Criminal Police Organization’s (INTERPOL) National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria is currently collaborating with INTERPOL NCB Maputo regarding the latest developments.
SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola commended the Border Policing High-Density Team for the effective arrest of Massango.
General Masemola highlighted that this incident should serve as a stern warning that South Africa is not a safe haven for criminals.
Some individuals wanted by the authorities are displayed in the newspaper below:
