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No extra security for Boeremag
04/05/2006 13:42 - (SA)
Pretoria - The accused in the Boeremag treason trial would not be treated any differently and no extra security measures would be taken after the escape of two prisoners.
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour announced this on Thursday.
Balfour was to visit Pretoria's C-Max Prison to assure himself about the security and the conditions under which the remaining accused were being kept.
Herman van Rooyen, 33, and Rudi Gouws, 28, went missing during the lunch hour recess of the treason trial at Pretoria High Court on Wednesday. There were 20 other accused still in custody.
Balfour said: "There is no reason to increase security. They did not escape from a security complex, it happened at court."
Inmates escape 'under cops watch'
He said the remaining 20 being held would be treated in the same way as other prisoners. "There will be no more or no less focus on them."
Balfour said the two had escaped under the police's watch, not that of his department.
He said: "I want to make it clear that it was not my people who took the Boeremag trialists to court."
He said he received phone calls from people asking him why correctional services let the two escape, and had to explain they were under police supervision when they escaped.
He said that he didn't have all the details of the escape, but pleaded to judges not to ask officials to remove the hand and feet cuffs of prisoners.
Balfour said: "If it was us or if it was the police... we know the risk profile of the people we take care of. Some are highly dangerous.
"I hope the police get those two guys back. They must face the music like anyone else."
- SAPA
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