Enough is enough - hostage drama cops

2012-11-20 09:39

(Conrad Bornman, Volksblad)

Bloemfontein - Free State police ended a 20-hour prison hostage drama early on Tuesday after deciding not to continue negotiating with two prisoners who had taken a doctor hostage.

"At about 10 minutes before 7 o'clock this morning, the doctor was rescued and both suspects apprehended," spokesperson Thandi Mbambo told AFP.

She said the doctor was unharmed but might require treatment for shock and trauma.

The prisoners at the Mangaung correctional centre, near Bloemfontein, are believed to have used sharp surgical instruments to take the doctor and a nurse hostage on Monday.

They later released the nurse, but kept the physician.

Police said the prisoners kept changing their demands, from first asking for a transfer to a prison in Gauteng, to later demanding better food.

Early on Tuesday, police decided that "enough is enough [and] a decision was taken that there won't be any more negotiations," Mbambo said.

The Mangaung correctional centre is jointly operated by the government and British security outfit G4S.

- AFP