A convicted murderer who escaped from a maximum-security prison in Mozambique during the December 2024 unrest has been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Border Policing High Density Team in Sandton. Nelson Simiao Massango, who was serving a 20-year sentence for murder since 2015, was among more than a thousand prisoners who fled the Maputo Maximum Prison during the chaos.
#sapsHQ The National Commissioner of the #SAPS, General Fannie Masemola has commended the SAPS Border Policing High Density Team for arresting a convicted prisoner who escaped from the Maputo Maximum prison at a time when the country experienced unrest in December 2024.
Nelson… pic.twitter.com/ksED1VgQG5
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 13, 2025
Massango was apprehended at a car hire dealership in Sandton, Gauteng, following a targeted operation by SAPS. Investigations suggest he may be linked to a series of motor vehicle thefts in the area. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Massango allegedly rented 4×4 bakkies in South Africa, smuggled them into Mozambique, and sold them there.
General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of SAPS, praised the Border Policing High Density Team for their swift action. “This arrest sends a stern warning that South Africa is not a hideout for criminals,” he said.
INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria is collaborating with its counterpart in Maputo to investigate Massango’s escape and his alleged involvement in cross-border criminal activities.
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