The Provincial Department of Correctional Services has reportedly contained the situation at Pollsmoor Prison following an incident on Monday 20 August, where offenders barricaded the doors and resisted being searched.
Correctional Services spokesperson Simphiwe Xako said the search was activated after a tip-off about knives inside Medium B Section.
Xako said offenders broke cell windows and burnt mattresses to prevent officials from searching the cells and the reaction team had to use force to stabilise the situation.
Xako said after the officials contained the situation and all 59 offenders were locked up, 13 knives and eight cellphones were found inside the cell.
He says such incidents have become common and the department takes them seriously.