Meet Two of South Africa’s Most Notorious Prisoners: Ananias Mathe and John Mongrel

South African prison history includes the stories of several notorious criminals whose names became widely known because of the serious crimes they were accused or convicted of. Among them were Ananias Mathe and John Mongrel, two figures associated with some of the country’s most disturbing criminal and prison stories.

Their backgrounds and alleged activities attracted considerable public attention, with both men becoming subjects of extensive media coverage over the years.

Ananias Mathe, who was born in Mozambique in 1976, became widely known in South Africa after repeatedly evading authorities. His ability to escape custody earned him the nickname “Houdini”, after the famous escape artist Harry Houdini.

Mathe came to national attention following his escape from the high-security C-Max prison in Pretoria in 2006. He had been arrested and was facing numerous serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, rape, hijacking and armed robbery.

According to reports, Mathe escaped from the facility by covering his body in petroleum jelly and squeezing through a small window. His escape triggered a major search operation, as authorities were also investigating him in connection with a number of serious crimes.

He had previously managed to evade authorities and was reportedly linked to an escape from custody in 2005. However, his freedom after the 2006 prison escape was short-lived.

On 4 December 2006, Mathe was eventually recaptured after investigators used a tracking device that had been recovered from a stolen vehicle in Craighall.

He was subsequently prosecuted and convicted on 67 of 71 charges, including attempted murder, aggravated rape, robbery and theft. Because of the seriousness of the offences, he received a lengthy prison sentence reportedly ranging from 43 to 54 years.

The escape also resulted in disciplinary action against prison officials, with six wardens reportedly losing their jobs following the incident.

Mathe died on 27 December 2016 at King Edward VIII Hospital. Reports at the time attributed his death to complications involving constipation and urinary retention.

John Mongrel became notorious for his association with the 28s prison gang and his time at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town.

He reportedly entered Pollsmoor at a very young age and later became a senior figure within the 28s gang. Accounts of his life in prison describe him as a feared and influential inmate who exercised considerable authority among fellow prisoners.

Mongrel’s reputation was further amplified after he was featured in a documentary series about prison gangs presented by British journalist Ross Kemp. The interview exposed international audiences to his account of life inside Pollsmoor and his involvement with the prison gang culture.

During the interview, Mongrel discussed aspects of his life in prison, including tattoos, gang traditions and relationships with other inmates. His account contributed to his notoriety and generated considerable public interest in the violent prison-gang environment.

Some accounts have attributed a very high number of deaths at Pollsmoor to Mongrel, either directly or through alleged orders to other inmates. However, such claims should be treated with caution unless supported by reliable official records.

Mongrel reportedly spent about three decades in Pollsmoor before his death in 2014.

The stories of Mathe and Mongrel remain part of South Africa’s wider history of crime and prison gangs. Their cases also highlight the challenges faced by the country’s correctional system in dealing with serious offenders, prison violence and organised gang activity.

https://www.zgr.net/en/wiki/who-is-john-mongrel-death-cause-and-murder/amp

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