Motsoaledi: Escape of 37 Lindela detainees an ‘inside job’
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi believes the escape of 37 detainees from the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp was an “inside job”.
The 37 foreign nationals were awaiting deportation before their escape from the centre on Sunday.
Motsaledi says preliminary investigations show that the detainees were tipped off by the guards. who left the facility before their official knock-off time.
According to Motsoaledi the guards were involved in a squabble with their employer.
“They (employer) had a squabble with their workers, who knocked off at 2 o’clock and they escape happened at five.
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“The inmates have actually confessed that they were tipped off by the guards who knocked off that they were knocking off early and that they were free to do what they want.
“I saw through the CCTV camera, they were escaping by going over the wall and the remaining guards there were over-powered.
“No-one could’ve escaped without being aided without people inside there.”
It’s alleged that the guards were protesting over a lack of protective equipment before leaving the repatriation centre.