Chaos erupted at the Nelspruit police station in Mpumalanga on Friday night after a bomb threat led to the temporary evacuation of the facility. The alarming incident began when provincial police were alerted to a potential explosive device planted inside the station.
Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, spokesperson for the provincial police, confirmed that the warning came from a private security company. According to Ndubane, a member of the explosive unit was tipped off by a Polsec member around 7 p.m., claiming that a bomb had been planted within the premises.
The situation quickly escalated as emergency protocols kicked in. “All role players were summoned to the station, including the K9 unit. The members were evacuated from the building, and services were disturbed,” Ndubane explained.
Specialized units, including explosives experts and K9 teams, conducted a meticulous search of the entire building. After thorough sweeps, no explosive devices were discovered. Despite the false alarm, police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the threat.
Services at the Nelspruit police station resumed by 9 p.m., but the disruption left both staff and the public rattled. Authorities are taking the incident seriously, emphasizing the need to determine who was behind the call.
This event echoes similar scares in recent times. Last year, the Durban Magistrate’s Court faced a bomb threat, prompting the Public Servants Association (PSA) to demand assurances of safety for its members. The threat, which targeted a building near the Durban central police station, led to precautionary measures, including a thorough sweep by the explosives and K9 units.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda recalled the tense atmosphere during that incident. “An unknown person called the court and announced that there was a bomb, which he said would go off at 10:30 a.m.,” he said. The court was evacuated, gates closed, and the public warned to stay away.
While both incidents ended without any explosives being found, they highlight the growing concern over bomb threats targeting key public institutions. Authorities remain vigilant, urging the public to report any suspicious activity as investigations continue.
