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24-557: The complex comprises six correctional centres, including the notorious C Max , Pretoria Local Prison , and a women's prison. The new name is the same as the street name (renamed in the previous year), with both now bearing the name of Kgosi Mampuru , a 19th-century local chief who resisted Boer rule and was subsequently hanged in 1883. During the apartheid years, the huge complex was often known incorrectly as "Pretoria Central". In fact, there were three separate clusters of prisons: Pretoria Central Prison proper, Pretoria (Local) Prison and

48-429: A car in the affluent Johannesburg suburb of Craighall . Unknown to Mathe, the vehicle was fitted with a satellite tracking device, which led police and private security companies to Mathe after a chase during which he was shot three times in the leg and buttocks. Mathe was found guilty on 67 of 71 charges including rape, attempted rape, attempted murder, robbery and theft, and was sentenced to 54 years' imprisonment with

72-616: A hill. C Max is the maximum security division of the prison. It is run by the South African Department of Correctional Services . The division is specifically designed for violent and disruptive prisoners who have been classified as dangerous in terms of the South African Criminal Procedure Act. Prisoners are kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours of each day out and specialized equipment, such as electric shields, are used by

96-465: A maximum-security section for white political prisoners (black political prisoners being held in Robben Island ), recidivists, habitual escapees, and the condemned. The section housing the white male political prisoners was an L-shaped three-storey building built in the late 1960s, consisting of 52 cells. As of 1978, the maximum number housed had been 22, with the average about 10; for this reason,

120-471: A prison riot in July 2017, after prisoners' concerns over delays in processing parole applications, poor food, overcrowding and violence by wardens were sent in a memorandum to the justice minister Michael Masutha , who had been Minister of Justice and Correctional Services since 2014. The complex comprises six correctional centres, and includes a women's prison and Pretoria Local Prison. The remand centre

144-504: A third known only as "Maximum" or "Beverley Hills". The latter was the ultra-maximum-security section. There were also housing and recreational facilities for the prison wardens . divided into separate prisons for males and females of different racial classifications. It was on what was then Potgieter Street, later renamed Kgosi Mampuru Street. Pretoria Central Prison was the official site of capital punishment in South Africa during

168-525: A time. Pretoria Central proper consisted of a number of separate prison buildings, each housing various divisions of prisoners based on racial classification and gender. This was a national prison and reception centre where many prisoners started and ended their sentences. Pretoria Prison, or Pretoria Local, housed local prisoners (split by race) as well as having a maximum-security section for white political prisoners (black political prisoners being held in Robben Island ), recidivists, habitual escapees, and

192-430: Is in the front of the facility. The supermax prison , now known as C Max and on the site of the former death row , is in the centre of the facility, on the lee of a hill. C Max is the maximum security division of the prison. It is run by the South African Department of Correctional Services . The division is specifically designed for violent and disruptive prisoners who have been classified as dangerous in terms of

216-537: The City of Tshwane in South Africa . It is operated by the South African Department of Correctional Services . The complex comprises six correctional centres, including the notorious C Max , Pretoria Local Prison , and a women's prison. The new name is the same as the street name (renamed in the previous year), with both now bearing the name of Kgosi Mampuru , a 19th-century local chief who resisted Boer rule and

240-553: The prison guards . In November 2006, Annanias Mathe became the first person to escape from C Max. Mathe, who had extensive military training gained during the Mozambique civil war , is reported to have escaped by covering his body in Vaseline and squeezing through his tiny cell window 20 by 60 centimetres (8 by 24 in). Mathe had been detained on more than 50 charges, including murder, rape, armed robbery and hijacking. He

264-447: The prison wardens . divided into separate prisons for males and females of different racial classifications. It was on what was then Potgieter Street, later renamed Kgosi Mampuru Street. Pretoria Central Prison was the official site of capital punishment in South Africa during the apartheid era. Condemned prisoners were held in a section of the prison called "The Pot". At one time, the prison gallows could hang up to seven people at

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288-620: The South African Criminal Procedure Act. Prisoners are kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours of each day out and specialized equipment, such as electric shields, are used by the prison guards . In November 2006, Annanias Mathe became the first person to escape from C Max. Mathe, who had extensive military training gained during the Mozambique civil war , is reported to have escaped by covering his body in Vaseline and squeezing through his tiny cell window 20 by 60 centimetres (8 by 24 in). Mathe had been detained on more than 50 charges, including murder, rape, armed robbery and hijacking. He

312-591: The South African press to dub him ' Houdini '. It later surfaces, but is not well-known, that Mathe had actually escaped the prison by bribing warders with R80,000. Mathe had escaped from police custody in a similar way, in April 2005, by offering policemen a R15,000 bribe. His last escape prompted a nationwide manhunt, the events of which were closely monitored by local media. He was recaptured on 4 December 2006 (about two weeks after his escape), when he hijacked

336-532: The apartheid era. Condemned prisoners were held in a section of the prison called "The Pot". At one time, the prison gallows could hang up to seven people at a time. Pretoria Central proper consisted of a number of separate prison buildings, each housing various divisions of prisoners based on racial classification and gender. This was a national prison and reception centre where many prisoners started and ended their sentences. Pretoria Prison, or Pretoria Local, housed local prisoners (split by race) as well as having

360-417: The building in which they had been held was completely refurbished with increased security features. In November 2006 Annanias Mathe became the first prisoner to escape from the C Max part of the prison complex. He was recaptured two weeks after his escape. The complex was renamed Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area by President Jacob Zuma on 13 April 2013. A prison warden and an inmate were injured during

384-589: The condemned. The section housing the white male political prisoners was an L-shaped three-storey building built in the late 1960s, consisting of 52 cells. As of 1978, the maximum number housed had been 22, with the average about 10; for this reason, the remaining cells were occupied by prisoners awaiting trial. The inmates included Denis Goldberg (who had been sentenced at the Rivonia Trial with Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders), Raymond Suttner , and Jeremy Cronin . The old Pretoria Local Prison building

408-409: The justice minister Michael Masutha , who had been Minister of Justice and Correctional Services since 2014. The complex comprises six correctional centres, and includes a women's prison and Pretoria Local Prison. The remand centre is in the front of the facility. The supermax prison , now known as C Max and on the site of the former death row , is in the centre of the facility, on the lee of

432-714: The only person to have ever escaped from the maximum high-security C-Max Penitentiary in Pretoria , South Africa . Mathe was initially arrested on 51 counts of murder , attempted murder, rape , with accomplice hijacking and armed robbery in November 2006. Whilst being detained in the A6 ward of C-Max Penitentiary which houses dangerous and hardened criminals, Mathe allegedly managed to escape by smearing himself with petroleum jelly and sliding out of his cell window, which measured only 20 cm × 60 cm. This daring escape led

456-403: The prison complex. He was recaptured two weeks after his escape. The complex was renamed Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area by President Jacob Zuma on 13 April 2013. A prison warden and an inmate were injured during a prison riot in July 2017, after prisoners' concerns over delays in processing parole applications, poor food, overcrowding and violence by wardens were sent in a memorandum to

480-536: The remaining cells were occupied by prisoners awaiting trial. The inmates included Denis Goldberg (who had been sentenced at the Rivonia Trial with Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders), Raymond Suttner , and Jeremy Cronin . The old Pretoria Local Prison building was demolished around 1978 after other buildings had been built adjacent to it. In 1979 white political prisoners Tim Jenkin , Alex Moumbaris and Stephen Lee escaped from "the Local". After this escape,

504-408: Was demolished around 1978 after other buildings had been built adjacent to it. In 1979 white political prisoners Tim Jenkin , Alex Moumbaris and Stephen Lee escaped from "the Local". After this escape, the building in which they had been held was completely refurbished with increased security features. In November 2006 Annanias Mathe became the first prisoner to escape from the C Max part of

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528-466: Was recaptured two weeks after his escape following a large manhunt. 25°45′40″S 28°10′54″E  /  25.7612°S 28.1816°E  / -25.7612; 28.1816 Annanias Mathe Annanias Mathe (c. 1976 – 27 December 2016), sometimes spelled Ananias Mathe , was a notorious serial rapist and armed robber from Mozambique who achieved further notoriety in 2006 by being

552-440: Was recaptured two weeks after his escape following a large manhunt. 25°45′40″S 28°10′54″E  /  25.7612°S 28.1816°E  / -25.7612; 28.1816 C Max Pretoria Central Prison , renamed Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area by former President Jacob Zuma on 13 April 2013 and sometimes referred to as Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Services is a large prison in central Pretoria , within

576-409: Was subsequently hanged in 1883. During the apartheid years, the huge complex was often known incorrectly as "Pretoria Central". In fact, there were three separate clusters of prisons: Pretoria Central Prison proper, Pretoria (Local) Prison and a third known only as "Maximum" or "Beverley Hills". The latter was the ultra-maximum-security section. There were also housing and recreational facilities for

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