South African police and correctional services on Friday launched an extensive search for prisoners who escaped from a prison in Malmesbury, near Cape Town.

“We don’t have numbers yet as the manhunt is underway,’’ correctional services spokesperson Logan Maistry told DPA.

The search party, which includes detectives on foot and in vehicles, has already re-arrested several of the escapees, police, and correctional services said.

A video circulated on social media by well-known anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee showed a number of men running from the prison grounds.

It is not known how the prisoners, who are all awaiting trial, escaped, but Maistry said that an investigation is underway and they would provide details as soon as possible.

Police warned members of the public not to try and apprehend any of the prisoners, but to call authorities instead.