The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that Thulani Gcaleka, a convicted murderer and rapist who escaped from a KwaZulu-Natal prison farm last month, was recaptured in Gauteng in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Gcaleka had been at large since February 5, 2026, after he staged a daring escape from the Sevontein Correctional Centre (a prison farm under the Pietermaritzburg Management Area). At the time of his escape, he was part of a cleaning work team assigned to duties on the farm.
The Takedown
National Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale confirmed that the arrest was the result of a specialized Track and Tracing Team established specifically to hunt high-profile and high-risk escapees.
Following a tip-off and weeks of surveillance, the team cornered Gcaleka in an undisclosed location in Gauteng. Authorities have not yet confirmed if he was receiving help from local accomplices during his time on the run.
A Dangerous Track Record
Gcaleka is considered a high-risk offender and was serving a life sentence for a series of violent crimes, including:
- Rape and Attempted Rape
- Attempted Murder
- Common Robbery
- Housebreaking with Intent
Strict New Measures
The DCS has made it clear that Gcaleka will not be returning to a low-security “farm” environment. “Offender Gcaleka will face additional criminal charges arising from his escape,” the Department stated. “Internally, he will be reclassified to a higher security category and transferred to a maximum-security correctional facility.”
An internal investigation is still underway to determine if prison officials were negligent or complicit in allowing Gcaleka to escape while on work duty.