Police in the Eastern Cape are searching for eight trial awaiting prisoners who escaped from the Mount Ayliff prison cells on Saturday.
Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana says according to a preliminary investigation police officers on duty were notified by another prisoner that the suspects had escaped.
He says police discovered that iron bars and windows from the cells were damaged.
The prison escapees face charges ranging from housebreaking, robberies and rape.
An additional charge of escaping from lawful custody will be added to their charge sheets.
An internal investigation will also be conducted to establish whether or not the on-duty officers were negligent.
The escapees are the 21-year-old Alungile Loni (robbery) the 22-year-old Mfundiso Nogwanya (rape) the 26-year-old Sipho Mdutyulwa (housebreaking and theft) the 36-year-old John Themba Ndou (Rape) the 21-year-old Nathi Mavela (assault) the 21-year-old Lizwi Dawedi (murder) the 21-year-old Sipho Ndzelu (robbery) and the 27-year-old Abongile Mphandana.
Most of the crimes were committed in Ntabunkulu.
Brigadier Kinana says these men should not be apprehended by the public as they are considered dangerous.
Earlier this month six dangerous inmates escaped from the SADA Correctional Centre in Komani.
It is believed that they are still at large.
Several requests for an update have gone unanswered by SAPS.
