Convicted Murderer Who Fled Mozambique Prison Captured in Sandton

Johannesburg – Authorities have apprehended a convicted murderer who escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique amid the violent protests that erupted following the elections last December, now located in Sandton, Johannesburg.

In the chaos that ensued after the contentious elections in Mozambique, Nelson Simiao Massango fled alongside more than a thousand inmates.

Reports indicate that Massango was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years for murder in 2015.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Border Policing High-Density Team has been diligently working to monitor and trace individuals who may have crossed into South Africa.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the fugitive was captured at a car rental agency in Sandton.

“During the investigation, we uncovered that he might be connected to numerous cases of vehicle theft in Gauteng, where he rented 4×4 bakkies, smuggled them into Mozambique, and facilitated their sale there,” Brigadier Mathe stated.

The International Criminal Police Organization’s (INTERPOL) National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria is currently coordinating with INTERPOL NCB Maputo regarding recent developments.

SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola praised the Border Policing High-Density Team for the successful arrest of Massango.

General Masemola emphasized that this incident should serve as a strong warning that South Africa is not a refuge for criminals.

Some of the individuals sought by the authorities are featured in the newspaper below: