Genevieve Serra|Published
The escape of an unnamed suspect detained at Philippi Police Station in the Western Cape, who has yet to be arrested after 15 days, has reignited questions about security breaches at local police stations.
The escape, reported on October 10, comes as Parliament examines a series of police-custody escapes, disciplinary action against SAPS members and regional differences in the national figures. The development comes after the Select Committee on Security and Justice called for lifestyle audits.
SAPS reports 366 detainees escaped
It also follows a nationwide manhunt for two awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped from Waterval Police Station in Limpopo this week. The topic formed part of the Select Committee on Security and Justice’s discussions this week, which revealed that the national trend remains downward, from 564 escapes in 2022/23 to 366 in 2025/26.
In the Western Cape, the suspect is believed to have escaped 15 days ago, on October 10, with police yet to release his photograph in a bid to have him re-arrested.
It is alleged the suspect escaped from police custody undetected after breaking through the ceiling and roof of his police cell.
The South African Police Service (Saps) presented its annual report for the 2025/26 financial year to the committee, revealing a complex landscape of achievements and setbacks.
The committee’s session also focused on escapes from police custody, revealing that 366 detainees escaped during 280 incidents in 2025/26, compared with 336 escapes in 2024/25, representing an increase of 8.93%. The target of a 10% reduction was not met. A total of 116 were re-arrested within 24 hours, with a further 132 re-arrested thereafter: 248 in total, or 67.76%, returned to custody.
The committee highlighted the points of escape took place during the following incidents: 62 at police cells, 41 at court holding cells involving wrongful releases, 37 while in-transit, 34 in community service centre holding cells, 31 at community service centres, 24 at loading zones, 19 at hospitals, 13 during further investigation and 10 before admission to cells.
Western Cape escapes under scrutiny
Saps had not responded to enquiries about the latest escape data by the time of publication.
Police in the Western Cape confirmed the suspect was detained for possession of drugs.
Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala explained: “This office confirms that Philippi police registered an escape from custody case. According to reports, an adult male suspect escaped from Philippi police cells. The circumstances surrounding the escape are under investigation and the suspect is yet to be arrested.”
In Limpopo, IOL reports that the escapees, Tafara Zangarai, 30, and Ndalamo Nemakhavhani, 35, had cut through the burglar bars and iron grilles above the cell balcony and had been at large for nearly a week.
MP questions disciplinary action
Nicholas Gotsell, MP for the DA on the Select Committee on Security and Justice and the National Portfolio Committee on Police, questioned why he had not received feedback from police management when he probed cases involving police officers facing disciplinary sanctions relating to escapes.
“The latest escape from Philippi police holding cells on October 10, 2026, is yet another reminder of the consequences of weak discipline and failed accountability within Western Cape Saps. The suspect reportedly remains at large, while serious questions persist about how detainees continue to escape from supposedly secure police facilities,” he said.
“This is a problem that developed under former Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, whose decisions to overturn the dismissals of officers found guilty of serious misconduct, including drug-related offences, sent a deeply troubling message throughout Saps: even serious misconduct does not necessarily cost you your job.”
Patekile was hauled before the committee to explain the spate of escapes. In a written reply, answers exposed 46 escapees in 34 incidents, 19 wrongful releases and disturbingly weak disciplinary consequences.”
“Now another suspect has escaped, and the initial handling of the incident raises further concerns.
SAPS says negligence drove most escapes
“The DA calls on Acting Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Bongani Dyantyi to immediately disclose the full circumstances of the Philippi escape...That investigation must examine possible internal assistance, include immediate lifestyle audits of implicated members and consider lawful, appropriately administered polygraph examinations where justified.”
Gotsell shared his communication to Acting Minister, Firoz Cachalia and the Commissioner in which he cites that he has been calling for accountability for the last six months involving disciplinary action against 22 police officers.
Cachalia's office confirmed it had received communication from Gotsell.
In relation to wrongful releases, 22 Saps employees were subjected to disciplinary processes, yet the table reflects two members against whom no steps were taken, two still under investigation, two found not guilty and only one verbal warning, while 15 members are reflected under Regulation 8,” Gotsell said.
“In cases where detainees were left unattended, 24 members were implicated across 14 incidents, including six members against whom no steps were taken.
Earlier this year, in the Western Cape, the provincial commissioner of police, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, and Saps management faced intense scrutiny over a series of high-profile escapes from police precincts in the province, including incidents in Wynberg, Strand, Bellville, Sea Point and Robertson.
In a communication between the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice and Cachalia, it identified patterns in the province relating to escapes.
“The escape modus operandi database is utilised to monitor and analyse patterns relating to escapes from custody, including administrative lapses and deviations from established escort procedures,” Cachalia had said.
“To date (as of February 2026), the available evidence indicates that the majority of incidents are attributable to negligence and procedural non-compliance rather than confirmed instances of internal facilitation or collusion.”