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WITBANK- Five sentenced offenders nearly lost their lives at Witbank Correctional Centre afer an attempted suicide on December 31.
It is alleged that the five decided to set themselves alight in their locked cell over a gang-related matter.
“Officials of the department, together with the emergency services, paramedics, fire brigade and members of the SAPS quickly responded and managed to rescue the five offenders, who sustained minor injuries and smoke inhalation,” said the departmental spokesperson Mr Moses Nkabinde.
They were taken to the centre’s internal hospital, where they were treated and released to a safer place in a special-care unit.