Thirty-one prisoners did not escape from custody in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a voice note, claiming that 31 prisoners escaped from a hijacked truck during their trip from court to the Pietermaritzburg Prison, was “old.”

“Police would like to place it on record that such is an old voice note relating events, which happened in 2021. The recirculation of that old voice note is aimed at causing panic among residents and derail police’s operational plans at this critical time in the country’s calendar.”

“Residents are cautioned against sharing that voice note as it creates a false narrative.”