Police chief Bheki Cele says he and his team will not hesitate to dispatch special task force members to high-risk situations if criminals force their hand.

On Monday, Cele praised the actions of members of the unit who successfully defused a tense hostage drama at the Mangaung prison in Bloemfontein.

Members of the highly trained unit rescued three of the jail's employees, after negotiations failed with 26 inmates who took them hostage.

Cele says the successful operation should be a warning to dangerous criminals.

"They stormed the building at 4.55pm and they were over and finished by 5pm. They are highly trained, but we do not want to utilise them all the time; but when we are forced by the criminals to utilise them, we will not hesitate," he said.

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