KZN prison burns, inmates evacuted

PITERMARITZBUGH — The Glencoe Prison in northern KwaZulu-Natal was at the time of going to press on fire and hundreds of inmates have been evacuated, police said yesterday. Police spokesperson Thulani Zwane confirmed that officers had been dispatched to the area after reports of the fire had surfaced.

Provincial Correctional Services spokesperson TP Mdluli told News24 that provincial prison officials were “rushing” to Glencoe.

Mdluli, who was also on his way there, could not confirm if there were any deaths, injuries or inmate escapes.

“We are still in the process of gathering information which is proving difficult while the fire is being battled and what we understand is that the prison is still burning,” Zwane said.

“We have received no reports that any prisoners have escaped and as far as we know they have been evacuated from the building and held by corrections officers. They will be able to tell you more.

The Northern Natal Courier reported that the fire was understood to have started in the prison’s dining hall and that the blaze had quickly spread and threatened prison offices.

Department of Corrections spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, police in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa warned locals against engaging in xenophobic violence following fresh attempts to intimidate foreign shop-owners.

“I would like to express that any intimidation directed to anyone is to be treated as such, therefore we shall have those involved behind bars.

“I would like to warn others who are still thinking of committing the same offence to refrain from those thoughts because we will not turn a blind eye towards any criminal activities,” said the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni.

Last Friday, a group of 15 suspects were arrested in Umlazi over alleged threatening letters towards foreign shop owners.

It is alleged that foreign shop owners were served with letters, from a group calling themselves Umlazi Business Traders, threatening the shop owners to close their shops and relocate.

A case of intimidation was opened at Umlazi police station for investigation.

The suspects aged between 23 and 50 were arrested and charged for intimidation.

They were scheduled to appear at the Umlazi Magistrates’ Court yesterday. — News24-CAJ News.