Groenpunt prisoners moved out

11 January 2013 - 02:05 By Sapa
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Correctional Centre.
Correctional Centre.
Image: File photo

About 510 inmates of Groenpunt prison will be moved to other Correctional Services centres, an official said yesterday.

About 350 prisoners have been moved so far and the rest will be moved today, Free State deputy regional Correctional Services commissioner Grace Molatedi said.

The relocated prisoners are serving maximum sentences.

"They are being accommodated at prisons in North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal," Molatedi said.

Prisoners at Groenpunt went on the rampage on Monday. They vandalised and torched cells and offices. Four warders and about 50 prisoners were injured.

Some prisoners, who reportedly had cellphones, called a local radio station to complain about the food and some of the warders.

Molatedi said the prisoners would be brought back to Groenpunt when the damaged cells had been repaired.

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele condemned the prisoners' behaviour and said it would not be tolerated.

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