UPDATE: Arson investigated after Glencoe prison fire

“It is alleged at approximately 10.30am, Glencoe Correctional Service building caught fire, and all the prisoners and staff were evacuated. Firefighters were also summoned to the scene to extinguish the fire,” provincial police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said on Tuesday.

“The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage. All the prisoners were taken to various correctional services. No one was injured,” added Naicker.

Provincial correctional service communications officer Thulani Mdluli has denied claims that one of the prisoners had escaped. “We do not have reports about any escaped prisoners. I can confirm the total number of 1 022 prisoners taken from Glencoe to various correctional services, and that number still remains,” Mdluli said.

Provincial police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane on Monday said half of the prison wasdestroyed by the blaze.

Video footage has since emerged showing part of the prison building on fire.

Click here to watch the video.

In a separate incident, one prisoner died and another was hospitalised after a fire at the Barberton juvenile prison in October last year. Nineteen inmates were in a cell when a fire started, Limpopo correctional services spokesperson Sarie Peens was quoted as saying. The cause of the fire was unknown.

Read More: Glencoe prison catches fire

– Caxton News Service