Mr Moses Nkabinde, communication officer at the Department of Correctional Services, reported that one of the units at Witbank Correctional Centre burned on Tuesday, December 30 in the early evening.
The officials of the department together with emergency services, paramedics and fire brigade, and members of the SAPS quickly responded to the fire and managed to rescue the five offenders who sustained minor injuries and inhalation of smoke. They were taken to the centre’s internal hospital, where they received medical treatment by the department professional nurses and released to a safer place at a special care unit.
It is alleged that these offenders blocked the cell entrance with steel bed frames, collected the bedding and set it alight. A watchful and vigilant correctional officer noticed incident and called for assistance.
“Cutting torch and crowbars had to be used to forcefully open the security doors. The collective of paramedics, SAPS members, correctional officials and fire brigade managed to gain access to rescue the lives of the offenders. The fire was brought under control, including the situation at the entire correctional centre. The matter is currently under internal investigation,” said Nkabinde.
