Ananias Mathe, sometimes spelled Annanias Mathe, was a Mozambican criminal who became notorious in South Africa for violent crimes, including rape, robbery and housebreaking. He became particularly well known because of his repeated attempts to escape from custody and his 2006 escape from Pretoria’s high security C Max prison. The escape made him a major subject of South African media coverage and earned him the nickname “Houdini.”
Ananias Mathe’s criminal activities were documented from the late 1990s and later escalated into serious violent offences. He was eventually convicted on dozens of charges, including rape, attempted rape, attempted murder, robbery and theft. His eventual sentence amounted to an effective 54 years in prison.
Ananias Mathe spent the final years of his life in prison. He died on December 27, 2016, at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban after experiencing serious health complications. His death ended the life of a prisoner whose name had become closely associated with South Africa’s most unusual prison escape cases.
Ananias Mathe Early Life
Ananias Mathe was born around 1976 in Mozambique, although his exact date of birth has not been reliably established. Public records about his childhood are limited, and South African correctional authorities were unable to confirm his precise age when his death was announced in 2016.
Ananias Mathe grew up in Mozambique before becoming connected with South Africa. His father, Zephanias Mathe, was reported to have spent many years working in South Africa. The family therefore had connections across Mozambique and South Africa, although detailed accounts of Mathe’s childhood remain limited.
Ananias Mathe’s documented adult life became dominated by criminal activity. Reports indicate that his offending began with housebreaking and robbery before escalating into more serious violent crimes. Between 1999 and 2002, he was reported to have specialised in breaking into homes, while his criminal activities later expanded to include rape and other violent offences.
Ananias Mathe Education
Ananias Mathe’s formal education is not well documented in publicly available records. There are no reliable records identifying the schools he attended, the qualifications he obtained or any university that he attended.
Ananias Mathe was reportedly regarded by his family as intelligent during his childhood, with reports indicating that he performed well in mathematics at school. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish the level of education he completed.
Ananias Mathe did not become known through an academic or professional career. Most surviving records about his adult life concern his criminal activities, arrests, court proceedings, prison escapes and eventual imprisonment rather than his education.
Ananias Mathe Career
Ananias Mathe did not have a conventional professional career. His adult life became associated with criminal activity in South Africa, with reports documenting housebreaking, robbery and violent offences beginning in the late 1990s.
Ananias Mathe’s criminal activities became increasingly serious. Reports linked him to rape, attempted rape, attempted murder, robbery and theft. The National Prosecuting Authority later recorded that he was convicted on numerous charges following his trial.
Ananias Mathe also became notorious for escaping from custody. In 2005, he escaped from police custody while awaiting trial. His most famous escape occurred in 2006, when he escaped from Pretoria’s C Max prison, one of the country’s high security correctional facilities.
Ananias Mathe’s 2006 escape resulted in a nationwide manhunt. He was recaptured on December 4, 2006, after hijacking a vehicle in Johannesburg. The vehicle reportedly had a tracking device, which helped authorities locate him.
Ananias Mathe was eventually convicted on dozens of criminal charges and sentenced to an effective 54 years in prison. Six prison warders were later dismissed in connection with his 2006 escape.
Ananias Mathe’s C Max Prison Escape Continues to Attract True Crime Attention
Ananias Mathe continues to attract attention because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his 2006 escape from Pretoria’s C Max prison. The story became one of the most unusual prison escape cases in South African criminal history and has continued to feature in retrospective true crime coverage.
Ananias Mathe was initially reported to have covered his body with petroleum jelly before squeezing through a narrow opening in his cell. The window was reported to measure approximately 20 centimetres by 60 centimetres, leading South African media to give him the nickname “Houdini.”
Ananias Mathe’s escape story later became more complicated when reports raised the possibility that prison officials had assisted him. Six warders were dismissed in connection with the escape, while later reporting questioned whether the petroleum jelly explanation accurately described how he got out. The conflicting accounts have helped keep the case alive in true crime discussions.
Ananias Mathe Cause of Death and Death
Ananias Mathe died on December 27, 2016, at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa. The Department of Correctional Services officially confirmed his death and stated that he died from natural causes.
Ananias Mathe had reportedly been experiencing health problems for about a month before his death. He was treated at different medical facilities before being admitted to King Edward VIII Hospital on December 23, where he underwent an operation.
Ananias Mathe’s reported medical problem involved his digestive system. Correctional authorities said that he died from natural causes, while contemporary reports stated that a full postmortem was awaited to establish the precise medical circumstances.
Ananias Mathe Personal Life
Ananias Mathe kept much of his personal life away from public attention. Information about his relationships and family is limited compared with the extensive reporting about his criminal activities and prison escapes.
Ananias Mathe was reported to have children, and his family in Mozambique was informed following his death. His father, Zephanias Mathe, also appeared in reports about his family background and life in Mozambique.
Ananias Mathe spent a significant portion of his adult life in custody. His repeated arrests, trials, prison escapes and lengthy sentence meant that imprisonment became a defining part of his later personal life.
Ananias Mathe Age, Religion, Tribe, Height and Physical Appearance
Ananias Mathe was born around 1976 and died on December 27, 2016. This would place his age at approximately 40 years at the time of his death, although some reports have given slightly different ages. His exact date of birth was not publicly confirmed.
Ananias Mathe was a Mozambican national. His specific tribe or ethnic group has not been reliably documented in credible public records. His religion is also not reliably documented, so a particular religious affiliation should not be assigned to him without evidence.
Ananias Mathe’s exact height has not been reliably recorded. Available photographs show his general physical appearance, but there is no dependable public measurement that establishes his height.
Ananias Mathe Legacy
Ananias Mathe remains associated with one of South Africa’s most publicised prison escape stories. His 2006 escape from C Max prison attracted widespread attention because of the facility’s high security and the unusual circumstances reported surrounding his disappearance.
Ananias Mathe’s case also drew attention to correctional security and the conduct of prison officials. Six warders were dismissed in connection with his escape, while later reporting continued to examine whether his escape was actually achieved through the famous petroleum jelly method or through assistance from officials.
Ananias Mathe’s legacy is therefore largely historical and criminal rather than professional. His name continues to appear in discussions about prison security, notorious offenders and unusual escape attempts, while his 2006 escape remains the event most closely associated with his public identity.
Conclusion
Ananias Mathe was a Mozambican criminal whose life became widely documented because of serious criminal convictions and repeated prison escape attempts. His 2006 escape from Pretoria’s C Max prison made him particularly notorious, while his eventual conviction resulted in an effective 54 year prison sentence. Ananias Mathe died in December 2016 after suffering health complications, but the unusual circumstances surrounding his prison escape continue to make his story a subject of South African true crime coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ananias Mathe
Who Was Ananias Mathe?
Ananias Mathe was a Mozambican criminal who became notorious in South Africa for serious violent crimes and repeated attempts to escape from custody.
When Was Ananias Mathe Born?
Ananias Mathe was born around 1976, although his exact date of birth has not been reliably confirmed.
How Old Was Ananias Mathe When He Died?
Ananias Mathe was approximately 40 years old when he died in December 2016, based on the commonly reported 1976 birth year.
When Did Ananias Mathe Die?
Ananias Mathe died on December 27, 2016, at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa.
What Was Ananias Mathe’s Cause of Death?
Ananias Mathe died from natural causes after experiencing health complications, including a reported digestive problem.
What Was Ananias Mathe Famous For?
Ananias Mathe was best known for escaping from Pretoria’s high security C Max prison in 2006. The escape earned him the nickname “Houdini.”
How Did Ananias Mathe Escape From C Max Prison?
Ananias Mathe was initially reported to have used petroleum jelly to squeeze through a narrow opening in his prison cell. Later reports raised allegations that prison officials had assisted him, leaving some uncertainty about the exact circumstances of the escape.
Was Ananias Mathe Recaptured?
Yes. Ananias Mathe was recaptured on December 4, 2006, after a vehicle he had hijacked was traced using a tracking device.
How Many Years Was Ananias Mathe Sentenced To?
Ananias Mathe was sentenced to an effective 54 years in prison after being convicted on numerous criminal charges.
What Was Ananias Mathe’s Nationality?
Ananias Mathe was a Mozambican national.
Did Ananias Mathe Have Children?
Yes. Reports about Ananias Mathe’s family indicated that he had children, although detailed information about them has remained limited.
What Was Ananias Mathe’s Net Worth?
Ananias Mathe’s net worth was not publicly documented. There is insufficient reliable information to provide a credible financial estimate.
Why Is Ananias Mathe Still Discussed?
Ananias Mathe is still discussed because of his notorious criminal history and especially the unusual circumstances surrounding his escape from Pretoria’s C Max prison. His case has continued to appear in retrospective South African true crime coverage.