Annanias Mathe

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Annanias Mathe (sometimes reported as Ananias Mathe) is a notorious criminal from Mozambique who achieved notoriety in 2006 by being the only person to have ever escaped from the maximum high-security C-Max prison in Pretoria, South Africa.

Mathe was initially arrested on 51 counts of murder, attempted murder, rape, hijacking and armed robbery in November of 2006. Whilst being detained in the A6 ward of C-Max prison which houses dangerous and hardened criminals, Mathe managed to escape by smearing himself with petroleum jelly and sliding out of his cell window, measuring only 20cm x 60cm. This daring escape led the South African press to dub him 'Houdini'.^{[citation needed]} Mathe had escaped from police custody before, previously in April of 2005. Both incidents are believed to be insider jobs, with collusion from police officials.^{[citation needed]} His latest escape prompted a nationwide manhunt, the events of which were closely monitored by local media.^{[citation needed]}

He was re-arrested on the 4 December 2006, when he hijacked 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 which saw him being shot three times in the leg and buttocks.