Thirteen of 73 prisoners who escaped from the Bizana prison in the Eastern Cape on Friday have been recaptured, the national Department of Correctional Services said.
Correctional Services representative Russel Mamabolo said that 13 escapees were found in the vicinity of Bizana.
Mamabolo said correctional services personnel, assisted by a police helicopter with a searchlight and other units, ”would be working round the clock” to apprehend all of those who escaped, the majority of whom were dressed in civilian clothes.
The inmates escaped when they were evacuated from the prison after a gas stove exploded in the prison’s centre courtyard causing a fire.
Provincial correctional services commissioner Raphepheng Mataka said the prison currently held 312 inmates, although it only has the capacity to hold 53.
He said the building’s kitchen was being renovated, and the food for the prisoners was being cooked on gas stoves in the courtyard.
”There was an explosion and while officials were trying to stop the fire, we had to evacuate all 312 prisoners to the outside of the building.
”Once outside, 73 of the prisoners decided to run away instead of being happy that we saved their lives,” Mataka said.
He said the inmates who escaped were serving terms for a variety of crimes.
”Luckily we have a very good relationship with the community and they are helping us search for those who escaped. We have also blocked off the whole town,” Mataka said.
He said it was expected that most of the escapees would be rearrested by dawn on Saturday. ‒ Sapa