Five Western Cape jail wardens arrested for helping gang commit crimes

Five correctional services officials accused of working with a gang to commit various crimes in prison were arrested in Worcester, Western Cape police said .

"The officials aged 33, 36, 40, 41 and 43 will be charged for offences relating to the drug trafficking and corruption acts," Lt-Col André Traut said.

They also face a charge relating to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

"The arrest of the officials is an extension of our lengthy investigation into the criminal activities of the Junior Cisko Yakies gang," he said.

"Our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrests of the officials is a continuing process and the possibility of more arrests is not excluded," Traut said.

A total of 32 members of the gang have been arrested in connection with the murders of two men in the Breede Valley prison last year.

"The [correctional services] officials are linked to the activities of these gang members and are suspected of assisting them to perpetrate various crimes in prison," Traut said.