Thulani Gcaleka, a high-profile escapee, has been rearrested in Gauteng after six weeks on the run. Gcaleka was serving a life sentence for serious crimes including attempted murder, rape, attempted rape, robbery, and housebreaking with intent at the Sevontein Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Gcaleka was apprehended in the early hours of Tuesday. The department highlighted the intensified efforts that led to his capture, stating that a specialised team worked to augment and support existing regional capabilities, ensuring a coordinated and intensified response to such incidents.
Escape from Correctional Centre
Gcaleka escaped from the Sevontein Correctional Centre while part of a cleaning work team assigned to the prison farm on February 5, 2026. The department warned that escaping from lawful custody is a grave offence, posing a significant risk to public safety.
The DCS remains resolute in ensuring that all those who evade custody are swiftly traced and returned. Gcaleka will now face additional criminal charges related to his escape. Internally, he will be reclassified to a higher security category and transferred to a maximum-security facility.
Consequences of Escaping
Disciplinary processes are also ongoing to determine whether any prison officials were negligent or complicit in the escape. The department reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on escapes, emphasizing that all offenders who flee custody will be pursued relentlessly.
For more information on the Department of Correctional Services and their policies, visit the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development website.
In a related incident, a Lesotho national has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for cutting railway cables, a crime that threatens essential infrastructure and economic stability in South Africa.
- Escaping from lawful custody is a grave offence
- Escapees pose a significant risk to public safety
- The DCS has a zero-tolerance policy on escapes
The rearrest of Thulani Gcaleka serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining public safety and the consequences of escaping from lawful custody.
