A third escapee‚ 37-year-old Chris Faku‚ was rearrested on Friday afternoon‚ also following information received from the local community. He is currently serving a sentence for aggravated robbery.
Provincial police spokesman Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the prisoners escaped after chaos broke out at the Kutama Sinthumule prison on Thursday night.
He said police were investigating cases of malicious damage to property and escaping from lawful custody after the inmates went on the rampage‚ burning part of the prison building.
The situation had been stabilised following the deployment of Public Order Police and a Tactical Response Team‚ but during a preliminary headcount it was discovered that seven prisoners had escaped.