KEY POINTS
- Authorities arrested Mozambican fugitive Nelson Massango at a dealership in Sandton.
- Activists warn that weak border security enables cross-border crime.
- Interpol and SAPS are working to track other escaped prisoners.
Mozambican prison escapee Nelson Simiao Massango was arrested at a car dealership in Sandton, raising concerns over South Africa’s border security.
Massango, convicted of murder in 2015, was one of over 1,500 prisoners who escaped from Maputo Maximum Prison on Christmas Day 2024. Also, he received a 20-year prison sentence.
However, he managed to flee Mozambique during a period of political and social unrest following the elections.
His capture in Sandton highlights South Africa’s porous borders. Criminals and smugglers have long exploited these weak points.
Additionally, authorities suspect Massango of running a vehicle smuggling operation. He allegedly rented 4×4 bakkies in Gauteng, transported them across the border into Mozambique, and sold them illegally.
According to SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, the Border Policing High-Density Team had been tracking Massango and other fugitives who entered South Africa illegally.
“Police arrested the suspected fugitive at a car hire dealership in Sandton. Further investigations suggest that he may be linked to multiple vehicle theft cases in Gauteng,” Mathe said.
South Africa Border security failures under scrutiny
The arrest has reignited debates about South Africa’s border security and how fugitives can cross borders undetected.
Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee criticized the ongoing failures to control cross-border crime, saying that weak enforcement, corruption, and lack of resources continue to allow criminals to move freely between countries.
“The issue of cross-border crime has been an ongoing problem for years,” Abramjee said.
“We know that many people cross the border without proper documentation, and bribery and corruption at border posts make it worse.”
According to IOL, Abramjee stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy, including the use of technology, increased human resources, and strict anti-corruption measures at South Africa’s borders.
He emphasized the need for an effective system which detects illegal border activity and prevents criminal conduct at the border.
Interpol and SAPS intensify investigations
As part of a wider crackdown on cross-border crime, Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria is now collaborating with NCB Maputo to track down other escaped prisoners who may have entered South Africa.
Authorities believe that several fugitives from the Mozambican prison break remain at large. Moreover, they suspect that some operate within various criminal networks across the region.
Massango will likely face multiple charges in South Africa, including vehicle theft and smuggling, before authorities decide on his extradition to Mozambique.
With concerns growing over the ease with which fugitives cross borders, calls are increasing for South Africa to tighten its immigration and border security policies to prevent further exploitation by criminals.
