National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola yesterday commended the SAPS Border Policing High Density Team for arresting a convicted prisoner who escaped from Maputo Maximum Prison during the unrest in December 2024.

Sandton Chronicle reports that Nelson Simiao Massango escaped along with more than a thousand other prisoners.

According to reports, he was convicted of murder in 2015 and sentenced to at least 20 years.

“The SAPS Border Policing High Density Team has been hard at ensuring they track and trace those that may have made their way into South Africa.”

Masemola added that the suspected fugitive was arrested at a car hire dealership in Sandton.

“Upon further investigation, he is being investigated and may be linked to several cases of motor vehicle theft in Gauteng where he would rent 4×4 bakkies, smuggle them over into Mozambique and have them sold in that country.”

He said Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) Pretoria is engaging Interpol NCB Maputo on the latest developments.

“This should send a stern warning that SA is not a hideout for criminals.”

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