LOOK: Police release identities of remaining 16 KZN prison escapees
KZN police have released the identities of 16 awaiting trial prisoners still on the run after escaping from a police truck in Pietermaritzburg yesterday.
The vehicle was transporting 45 suspects from New Prison to the magistrate's court when it was ambushed by a gang of heavily armed men.
Authorities say 31 prisoners escaped.
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Police spokesperson, Jay Naicker says by yesterday afternoon, 13 prisoners had been re-captured.
He says a further two were arrested this morning. "Some of the prisoners remained in the vehicle whilst others handed themselves over to police at various locations in Pietermaritzburg and others were found by police in the city.
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Specialised multidisciplinary teams have been assembled to hunt down those that are on the run.
"These teams will work incessantly until they arrest those that they were tasked to hunt down. No effort is being spared as the teams have been bolstered with the necessary resources and expertise to full fill their mission," says Naicker.
Naicker says of the 16 still on the run, five were awaiting trial for murder, one for rape and robbery and one other for attempted murder.
READ: 31 prisoners escape as police van ambushed in PMB
Four others were facing charges for robbery and theft.
Naicker has urged anyone who spots one of the escaped prisoners to immediately call their Crime stop number on 08600 10111.
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