Gauteng police have confirmed that the suspect seen in a widely shared video escaping from Jeppe Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg has been captured after a brief period on the run. The video, which quickly sparked outrage across social media, shows the dramatic escape of a man who appeared to be desperate to flee the court building. In the footage, the suspect can be seen climbing out of a window on the multi-storey building, skillfully sliding down the railings, landing on another floor, and then jumping to the ground. He then makes a quick dash to flee the scene.
Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, a spokesperson for the Gauteng police, confirmed the incident took place on Tuesday, during the suspect’s court appearance for a charge of housebreaking and theft. Following the escape, authorities launched an intensive manhunt to track down the fleeing suspect. Just a day later, on February 19, 2025, the suspect was successfully rearrested in Malvern by the Jeppe tracing team, and he now faces additional charges for escaping lawful custody.
This incident follows a series of high-profile escapes in recent months. In December 2024, reported that two of three suspects who had escaped from Swartruggens police holding cells in the North West were rearrested. The suspects, initially four, had managed to escape by climbing through the roof of their detention cell. Authorities acted swiftly, apprehending one escapee right away, while two others were caught days later with the help of local residents.
In one of those cases, 28-year-old Johannes Mfaladi, who was being held on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, was found hiding on a farm in Swartruggens. Another suspect, 29-year-old Mpho Vincent Madito, facing four charges of rape, was apprehended in Boschhoek. However, police are still searching for Thapelo Mogwele Molebatsi, 25, who had been detained for theft.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in ensuring the security of detainees and the measures required to prevent such escapes from happening in the future.
