Eight prisoners still at large after SA jail break

South Africa’s prisons body says it has arrested all but eight of the 69 inmates who escaped from a facility in the Western Cape on Friday.

Explaining how it had happened in a statement, South African Correctional Service said the prisoners had “overpowered officials during exercise” then “took the keys and locked three officials in a cell, and opened other cells before escaping through the main entrance and over the roof”.

Only 20 prison officers were on duty at the facility which had 451 inmates, according to the statement.

Nine prison officers “sustained minor injuries and bruises” during the incident, the prisons body added.

BBC.COM