Mthatha - Two prisoners were killed during an attempted escape at the High Court in Mthatha on Wednesday, Eastern Cape police said.
“The two prisoners were due to appear in the High Court on various charges relating to armed robberies, hijacking, murder, rape and kidnapping,” Brigadier Marinda Mills said.
They were brought from Kokstad Maximum Security Prison to the court. Around 10am they overpowered one of the guards escorting them.
Justice ministry spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said earlier that it was believed the prisoners retrieved a firearm from a dustbin in the court.
The two were killed during a shootout with the correctional services security task team.
Mills said a correctional services officer was slightly injured.
Last month, a policeman and a court orderly were wounded when two accused opened fire during their escape from the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. A man was killed and two people were wounded in a shooting outside the Bishop Lavis Magistrate's Court in Cape Town.
Earlier, Mhaga said Justice Minister Michael Masutha was looking at making courts safer.
“The minister of justice will convene a meeting with the head of court services and security nationally to seek an intervention with the view to beefing up security measures in our courts, in view of the recent incidents in Pretoria and Cape Town.
“We assure the members of the public that we will endeavour to make our courts safer and we will not be intimidated in ensuring that justice is dispensed,” Mhaga said.
Sapa