The 39 suspects were awaiting trial at the time of their escape.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini says the suspects escaped while on their way from court to the Wierdabrug Police Station on Thursday.

"When they were about to be taken to the cells, they forcefully pushed the officers and all 39 of them escaped," he says. None of the suspects have been re-arrested.

Police are also conducting internal investigations to establish a possible case of negligence.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s provincial spokesperson for community safety, Michael Shackleton, says the party will be proposing a community safety bill to improve poor policing in provinces following the incident.

“We have seen that policing in provinces is failing and is not adequate. The DA wants an honest and professional police service. There are stories all over the country where criminals are caught in the act of various crimes and aren't being convicted, where dockets are lost." 

Jacaranda FM News