SAPS warns pranksters will be prosecuted
The source of the threat is still under investigation, police said.
In the aftermath of the concerning bomb threats made to several Boksburg schools last week, the SAPS is reminding citizens that making a hoax bomb threat against a school or other public place is a punishable offence.
Learners and staff at the schools had to be evacuated on December 2 after receiving telephonic bomb threats. The schools included Woodlands, Baanbreker, Concordia and Boksburg High.
The threats turned out to be false after the EMPD and SAPS explosives units scoured the premises and found nothing dangerous.
They gave the schools the all-clear and learners were allowed back in to write exams.
According to the provincial SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the Gauteng police are investigating the threats.
“It is a criminal offence to prank the SAPS because we treat every call as an emergency to ensure the safekeeping of lives. When we respond to any complaint we are using state resources to keep the public safe.
“Therefore, anyone making hoax, prank or abusive calls is warned that they will be arrested for misuse of state resources and diverting the resources to the wrong place instead of saving lives.
“Those responsible of these bomb threats will face criminal prosecution,” he explained.
Masondo explained police were sent a voice note that was circulating about a bomb threat at schools in Boksburg and had also received calls from some of the targeted schools.
“We dispatched police explosive units to the schools where searches were conducted and no bombs were found. The investigation team are tasked with determining where the threats were made from and by whom,” said Masondo.
Voice note
The Advertiser heard a recording of the threat made to the School of Achievement.
A young male is heard telling the person who answered the phone the following:
“You’ve got a bomb in your school.”
School employee: “We’ve got a what?”
Caller: “A bomb.”
School employee: “A form or a bomb?”
Caller: “A bomb.”
School employee: “As in a bomb? Explosive?”
Caller: “You’ve got 20 minutes to get them out.”
School employee: “Pardon, sir?”
Caller: “You’ve got 20 minutes to get them out.”
School employee: “Are you saying we’ve got a bomb in the school?”
Caller: “Yes.”
School employee: “And whom am I speaking to?”
The call ended.
Also Read: Bomb threats at schools: caller says ‘you’ve got 20 minutes to get them out’
