Malmesbury prison break

Inmates make a break for it after they escaped from a correctional services facility in Malmesbury on Friday Photo: Screenshot

Watch: Malmesbury inmates stage prison break, sparking manhunt

Police in the Western Cape have launched a massive manhunt after several inmates escaped from a Malmesbury prison on Friday 24 July.

Malmesbury prison break

Inmates make a break for it after they escaped from a correctional services facility in Malmesbury on Friday Photo: Screenshot

A massive manhunt is underway in the Western Cape after a group of prisoners escaped from a correctional services facility in Malmesbury on Friday morning. 

Footage of the escape was captured by a member of the public who was sitting in his vehicle outside the facility, where the prisoners were in the process of being transported to a nearby court to stand trial. 

Watch: Prison break at Malmesbury jail 

In the video, at least eight people can be seen running from the responding authorities, who can be heard firing several shots as the inmates made a break for it.

Some escapees re-arrested 

Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said that many of the prisoners had been immediately re-arrested, but that a search as ongoing for the rest of the escapees. 

“Police from Malmesbury and neighbouring police stations on the West Coast, together with officials from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), have launched an extensive search for awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped from  Malmesbury on Friday afternoon,” she said. 

“The search party including detectives, on foot and in vehicles, has already covered much ground with the re-arrest of several escapees.”

Potelwa advised the public to keep their distance from the escapees should they come into contact with them, and rather to contact one of the following people:

  • Lt Col Ntsethe of Malmesbury police on 082 469 0975; alternatively
  • Jonathan Bredenkamp on 072 878 2685

“As the search intensifies, additional support will be summoned,” she said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine how the escape occurred.

This is a developing story