Riot breaks out at Pretoria prison [video]

Prisoners serving life and long term sentences at Pretoria’s Kgosi Mampuru II prison rioted on Sunday afternoon. The injury count ranged from two to 19‚ as prisoners disputed the official count.

The fighting‚ which prompted prison authorities to call in Department of Correctional Services specialised units‚ is over prisoners’ unhappiness with how issues around parole are being dealt with.

The Times has been given exclusive video of the fighting‚ during which one warder was beaten with a brick for calling prisoners by the K word.

Warders were deployed with dogs‚ electric shields and pepper spray after prisoners‚ who were armed with improvised weapons‚ attacked them.

Spokesman for the Gauteng Department of Correctional Services Ofentse Morwane‚ confirmed that an “altercation” had taken place‚ confirming issues surrounding parole were at the crux of the disagreement.

“According to initial reports‚ offenders were refusing to go into their cells‚” Morwane said.

“They were requested repeatedly to go back to their cells‚ but refused to do so. The inmates then started attacking officials and in the process one official and one offender sustained slight injuries.”

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