Convicted offender Mikyle Mentoor re-arrested while accomplice remains at large

A convicted offender has been re-arrested, but his accomplice remains at large.

Mikyle Mentoor was re-arrested by Manenberg police this week for a murder charge.

"A 19-year-old male was arrested on Saturday on a charge of murder,” said police spokesperson, FC van Wyk.

DA MP and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) member on Security and Justice, Nicholas Gotsell, last week blew the whistle on Mentoor and Me-Khayle Timmie, who were both unaccounted for while meant to be in custody at Pollsmoor Prison. 

A third inmate, Xolani du Preez, was subsequently re-apprehended and returned to Pollsmoor following his arrest for robbery in April, while Timmie, a convicted rapist, remains at large.

Mentoor and Timmie were being held at Horizon Child and Youth Care Centre due to their ages and were to be transferred to Pollsmoor Juvenile Centre after they attacked a staff member with a sharp object.

As sentenced prisoners, they were transported to Blue Downs Magistrate's Court just weeks ago to face this new charge, and while they were set to be sent to Pollsmoor, as directed by a court order, they vanished.

Both Timmie and Mentoor are serving sentences for rape and murder.

The DA said they had also written to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu at the time to confirm whether his department was informed.

Gotsell said Correctional Services failed to alert SAPS, showing a total communication breakdown and that they welcomed the capturing of one of the two convicted prisoners.

“The DA welcomes the re-arrest of one of the two convicted offenders who recently went unaccounted for while meant to be in custody at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre.

"While this is a necessary step, it underscores the urgent need for immediate accountability within the correctional services system,” he said.

Gotsell explained further what transpired that led to the trio’s escape from custody.

"Initially, three individuals - all convicted of either murder, rape or robbery, were unlawfully released from custody after being remanded to Pollsmoor by the High Court on an unrelated matter involving the assault on youth care worker.

“It was only after the DA conducted an unannounced oversight visit to Pollsmoor two weeks ago that it was revealed that two offenders, Mentoor and another, were unaccounted for, despite Minister Pieter Groenewald having informed Parliament a day prior that all three (du Preez) were in custody.”

He said the DA has written to the Minister of Justice to request urgent clarification.

Last week, Groenewald's spokesperson, Eune Oelofsen, told the Cape Argus that an investigation is under way to confirm the facts.

Mchunu's spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, also said said the letter had been received.

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