Pretoria - The Department of Correctional Services has revoked privileges and tightened security around five Boeremag detainees who attempted to escape from court on Tuesday.
The department clarified incorrect and what it called sensational widespread media reports that privileges of all 11 Boeremag remand detainees were withdrawn.
"The stringent steps taken by Correctional Services were only against the five that attempted to escape.
"The privileges of the other six Boeremag detainees, as directed by the Supreme Court in December 2004, remain as they are," the department said.
Some of the revoked privileges include taking away four laptops and four TVs and reclassifying them as high security risk.
They have also been separated from the other six Boeremag remand detainees incarcerated at C-Max Correctional Centre in Pretoria.
"The steps taken against the five Boeremag remand detainees are in line with the safety policy and procedures of the department applied on inmates that attempt to escape from lawful custody and were subsequently re-arrested," said Correctional Services spokesperson, Manelisi Wolela.
Correctional Services reclassifies the five Boeremag members who attempted to escape at the Pretoria High Court under the guard of the South African Police Services (SAPS) as high security risk. Correctional officials may take any steps deemed necessary to prevent any potential escape, especially when such inmates have been recaptured.
Wolela said this was standard procedure, which may include locking up an inmate in solitary confinement while under strict monitoring and observation by correctional officials for a specific period and may also be cuffed with leg irons.
The department said it takes any escape seriously, to ensure that the members of the public feel safe.
