South African prisoners hold officials hostage

Inmates took prison officials hostage on Monday at a privately operated maximum security jail in central South Africa, officials said.

“There has been a hostage drama at Mangaung correctional centre but we are not in a position to divulge any information in terms of the number of people involved,” Grace Molatedi, regional deputy commisioner for prisons, told AFP.

“Offenders are holding officials hostage,” Molatedi said.

She said the officials were taken hostage at 0900 GMT, but refused to give further details, adding that police were still on the scene and the matter is “sensitive”.

The prison, near the South African city of Bloemfontein, is jointly operated by the government and the British security outfit G4S.