The situation at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein is back to normal following the release of three wardens who had been held hostage by the inmates since yesterday.

The three were taken hostage at the high security section, where a group of inmates set fire to about 10 cells. They want to be transferred to prisons close to their hometowns.

Prison management says criminal charges have been instituted against the inmates. The prison will also conduct and internal investigation into the matter.

In a similar incident earlier this year, inmates at the same prison went on the rampage and set fire to prison cells.