Three of the 31 boys who absconded from the Bonnytoun youth detention centre in Kraaifontein last week are still on the run.
Police and the Western Cape Department of Social Development have asked the public to come forward with any information on the boys’ whereabouts.
Social Development spokesman Sihle Ngobese said they escaped from the child and youth care centre (CYCC) on Friday January 13 after they “assaulted and over-powered care staff”.
He said 20 of the boys had soon be apprehended, another five were found by their parents and were being returned to the centre, and the police had found another three.
Two staff members were injured during the escape and one is still in hospital.
The centres, Mr Ngobese said, were for “children at-risk, and for children who are in conflict with the law”, although the two categories of children were held separately at the facilities.
Anyone with information can contact the Kraaifontein police at 021 980 5500 or 10111, or social development’s hotline at 0800 220 250.
Police arrested Marinda Julies, 37, for her alleged abduction of eight-month-old Lucus Cederus on Friday January 13.
Lucus was taken from his Scottsdene home on Tuesday January 10.
According to police, Ms Julies, known as Mindy, fetched Lucus from his home and never returned with him.
Lucus was found and returned to his family on Thursday January 12, after a tip-off to police, but Ms Julies was still at large. She was arrested on Friday and appeared in court on Monday January 16.
Lucus was unharmed.
