The alleged ringleader of the “Polo Gang”, a group of suspects who hijacked Volkswagen Polo vehicles around King William’s Town last year, was re-arrested in Cape Town this week.
Siyabonga Pollen Mlambo, 22, had been on the run for over a month after successfully escaping from a King William’s Town prison on January 3.
A day after his escape, correctional services regional manager Nkosinathi Breakfast said he suspected department officials may have been involved in aiding him to escape.
He was recaptured on Monday by police.
Mlambo was originally arrested in KwaZulu-Natal last July while driving with four accomplices in a Polo allegedly hijacked in King William’s Town.
Correctional services spokesman Zama Feni yesterday confirmed Mlambo was re-arrested after police managed to track him down to a hair salon in the Cape Town CBD where he was working as a hair stylist.
“His re-arrest was due to co-operation between King and the Cape Town police.
“He was arrested on Monday and brought back on Tuesday before appearing in court today,” said Feni.
The Daily Dispatch was not able to establish the outcome of the court appearance at the time of writing.
It is understood Mlambo had also worked as a hair stylist in King William’s Town before his arrest last year.
It is believed some of his female victims may have frequented the salon. Mlambo and his gang of four were arrested after a string of hijackings targeting female drivers.
The Dispatch had earlier reported that a secretary working at the DA’s offices in the Bhisho legislature had a near-death experience when she was accosted by two armed men as she drove into her residential complex on June 12.
They pointed firearms and took her silver grey VW Polo with her one-year-old daughter strapped into the back seat.
The suspects allowed her to remove the child before speeding off. Her vehicle was later found in Kokstad.
A few days later, another woman driving a VW Polo was hijacked by two men who had followed her home.
She had two children in the car and again the hijackers allowed her to take them out first.
Her vehicle was later discovered abandoned nearby. — asandan@dispatch.co.za