Farm murder suspects escape from Barkley-East Correctional Centre
AfriForum sent an urgent request to the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Zach Modise, regarding an internal investigation at the Barkley-East Prison in the Eastern Cape after four prisoners escaped yesterday, including two murder suspects arrested for the murder of farmer Sarel Pretorius in January 2014.
Their absence was only noticed at a check count of all the prisoners on Saturday, 26 July.
“You can’t help but wonder who was involved on the inside. How can prisoners saw through prison bars without anyone noticing, and where did they get the saw from?” asked Ian Cameron, Head of Community Safety at AfriForum.
According to Cameron it is of the utmost importance that Police prioritise farm murders, and it’s just as important for Correctional Services to ensure that farm murder suspects remain behind bars.
There are various roleplayers who have to make sure justice is served. AfriForum has already launched many projects in 2014 regarding the prioritising of farm murders.
“Action needs to be taken immediately by Commissioner Modise. The Barkley-East Police rearrested the suspects just outside the town. An internal investigation should however still be launched by Correctional Services to ensure that the work by the Police was not in vain,” Cameron concluded.