A bomb scare disrupted proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for about two hours on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said chief magistrate Desmond Nair was informed of a call, warning about a bomb, just after 10am. ”They did not specify where the bomb was and the chief magistrate contacted the Pretoria Central police,” he said.
Several police units, including the explosives unit and the dog units of both the South African Police Service and the metro police, reacted and arrived at the scene. The building was evacuated and searched for about an hour-and-a-half before it was declared safe to go in.
While police and the dogs searched the building, court personnel and witnesses gathered on the opposite pavements. Streets around the court were also blocked off and traffic was diverted away from the scene.
It appeared that when Nair heard the news about the alleged bomb, he informed several of his seniors. Court orderlies and prosecutors then walked to each courtroom and office, informing people that they had to evacuate.
Some prisoners were driven away in vans, while others were taken to the Pretoria Central police station next to the building for safekeeping.
It was just before noon when court proceedings started again. — Sapa