Briefly - The Umzinto Prison was reportedly up in flames on Monday, 12 July but has been contained, as confirmed by the department’s spokesperson
- Eyewitnesses reported that they had seen prisoners fleeing the area of the fire but Singabakho Nxumalo stated that this was untrue
- Videos on social media show a number of people standing on the roof of the facility while the blaze continues to blow smoke into the air
It has been alleged that prisoners have escaped from the Umzinto Prison. Reports state that the facility was full of smoke and that people kept coming out of it. It’s been confirmed by sources at the scene that prisoners began toĀ protest.
The above has yet to be confirmed by the department and what exactly transpired. Spokesperson for the department Singabakho Nxumalo stated that the situation has since returned to normal and that the fire started in section A of the prison.
People believed to be prisoners can be seen on the roof the facility as smoke continued to come out of the facility.
Nxumalo stated that the department has not established the cause of the fire nor have they found the motivation for those that started this fire.
UMzinto prison is on fire. Julius // #SAShutdown // ATMs pic.twitter.com/a71mrFUBy4
— Mr HandsomeĀ° (@AndileGogoda) July 12, 2021
Nxumalo explained that investigations have already started and that the important thing is that the main thing is that the fire has been contained. Nxumalo went on to say that they are concerned about how the fire was ignited within a prison cell. He added that the department is in control and that there were escapes, according toĀ ECR.
TheĀ South Coast HeraldĀ reported that locals have claimed that they did see prisoners escaping.
