MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Letters / Offer a Reward to Recapture Missing Inmates

Offer a Reward to Recapture Missing Inmates

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern the Department of Correctional Services’ latest attempt to deflect responsibility for the disappearance of convicted offenders Me-Kayle Timmie and Mikyle Mentoor, and the reoffending of Xolani Du Preez, while all three were meant to be in custody at Pollsmoor.

Rather than owning up to systemic failures, the Department now blames the South African Police Service (SAPS), claiming that it was not provided with the legal instruments to detain the men. This despite their system reflecting the case number which remanded them until the finalisation of litigation in the High Court.

The narrative offered by the Department is not only misleading – it’s dangerous. Three sentenced offenders were lost in a system jointly managed by Justice, SAPS, and Correctional Services. These departments should be cooperating to urgently locate the missing inmates and then fix the breakdowns that enabled this.

The DA has yet to receive a response from Minister Pieter Groenewald explaining why he told Parliament on 12 May that all three were in custody – a claim which a subsequent DA oversight visit to Pollsmoor prison proved to be false.

Internal investigations by the Department of Correctional Services, as offered by the Minister, cannot be credible when conducted by the very same people who lied about the three men’s whereabouts. The DA reiterates its call for urgent parliamentary oversight and calls for SAPS or Correctional Services to immediately offer a public reward for information leading to the re-arrest of Timmie and Mentoor.

Correctional Services knowingly misled Parliament and the public. You cannot fix systemic failure with internal spin – or by concealing the truth.

The DA wrote to the Minister of Police on Monday to confirm whether SAPS had been formally notified of the escape. No reply has been received. While Correctional Services play the blame game, a convicted rapist and murderer remain at large. Their re-apprehension must now be the top priority.

Regards

Nicholas Gotsell MP
DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice

Category: Tag: ,

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Older Persons Grants Land Today — No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, Older Persons grants are paid today, 30 October, under SASSA’s revised November payment schedule — with disability grants on Monday 2 November, children’s grants on Tuesday 3 November, and grants under review on Thursday 5 November. Two things every beneficiary should know. First, grant money does not expire on payment day. It stays…

  • November Grants Pay Early – No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. November grants pay earlier than usual. Older Persons grants are paid on Friday 30 October, Disability grants on 2 November, and Child Support and other grants on 3 November. Grants still under review are paid on 5 November. The money…

  • NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October — SASSA households, apply now

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year close on Friday 31 October 2026, and no extension is expected. If your household receives a SASSA grant, your child already passes the NSFAS financial eligibility test — but they still have to…