The truck was transporting the prisoners from Pietermaritzburg New Prison to the Local Magistrate's Court when the group made a run for it.

KZN police spokesperson Jay Naicker says the two police officers were transporting 45 prisoners when the incident happened.

“This morning at 08:00 the two police officers were conveying prisoners from the PMB New Prison to the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court when they were blocked off by a double cab bakkie with five heavily armed gunmen.

“The suspects pointed firearms at the police officers and forced open the rear of the truck. Thirty-one awaiting trial prisoners escaped out of the 45 that were in the truck.”

Naicker says 22 prisoners are back behind bars while 23 are still on the run.

Jacaranda FM