Pretoria | Monday
TWO buildings at the University of SA were evacuated and about 20 people taken to hospital on Monday morning following an anthrax scare.
The evacuation of the administration building and library was ordered after mail covered with a white powdery substance arrived at the institution, Unisa representative Doreen Gough said.
”We could not afford to take any chances,” she said.
About 20 people who were believed to have come into contact with the powder were taken to the Muelmed Hospital for tests.
By mid-morning the staff had still not been allowed to return to their offices in the two buildings. Emergency services personnel were decontaminating the airconditioning system, Gough said.
National police representative Assistant Commissioner Joseph Ngobeni confirmed the incident, but added: ”We are receiving information about a lot of hoaxes… Up to now nothing has been confirmed in South Africa.”
He said the packages involved had been sent to the forensic science laboratory for analysis.
It will take at least a week before the results are known. – Sapa