Barberton escapee shot dead

One of thirty-one men who escaped from Barberton prison in Mpumulanga has been shot dead by police.

Police spokesman Captain Leonard Hlathi said that police received a tip-off that one of the prisoners who escaped at the end of last month was now staying at a house in Mooi Plaas.

Police went to the home on Wednesday night. "He was asleep... When he woke up he wrestled with the one police officer to try disarm him."

Another officer then fired a shot at him, killing him instantly. The man who was shot dead was implicated in various crimes including rape. A knife was found under his pillow.

Last weekend, four of the other escapees were re-arrested after they were found staying in a home together. Another two of the escapees had also since been re-arrested.

Last week, the Barberton police station commander and her deputy were transferred pending an investigation into the escape.

Hlathi said the investigation into the police officials continued, while they continued working at the stations where they had been transferred.

Many of the 31 who escaped were apparently illegal miners.The men escaped by sawing open the secured metal roof of the cell.

Five men escaped from a prison in Witbank on New Year's Eve. One was shot dead on Sunday after he also tussled with police trying to re-arrest him.

Another one of the five - wanted for possession of an illegal firearm - was brought in by his parents. The twenty-year-old appeared in court and had his case postponed until a later date.

A police official implicated in the escape had appeared in court. The case was postponed until mid-March.