The Public Servants Association (PSA) has demanded a police report detailing that the Durban Magistrate’s Court is safe and their members can continue to work. This is after a bomb threat on Tuesday morning in the building close to the Durban Central Police Station.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the explosives and K9 units of the police were conducting a precautionary search and sweeping at the court. “This is after an unknown person called the court and announced that there was a bomb, which he said would go off at 10.30am,” Netshiunda said.

When the Sunday Tribune arrived at the court, the public had been evacuated, the gates were closed at the court entrance and people were standing outside. Others were leaving and warning people going towards the court building that there was a bomb.

Police standing outside Durban Magistrates Court as there was a bomb threat. Picture: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers

One of the high-profile cases halted by the bomb threat is that of the former mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, Zandile Gumede, and 21 others. Her corruption trial session started on Monday.

The KZN chairperson of the PSA, Mlungisi Ndlovu, who was at the court, addressed the staff members in the parking lot by the High Court entrance and said it could not take less than two hours for the police to say the building had been declared safe and there was no bomb.

Staff outside the Durban Magistrate’s court and the public standing outside after being evacuated due to a bomb threat. Picture: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers

“We want to see the report. You cannot just tell us that it is okay now, we must come and work,” said Ndlovu.

He said their members were not there for death certificates but to provide services.

After the police finished their search they came out and held a meeting with court management, and then addressed the staff.

Staff members were told that there was nothing in the building.

They were then told to go back to work.

Netshiunda said the search and sweeping had been completed and no bomb was found. “The building has been declared safe,” he said.

However, Ndlovu had said their members had to go through counselling because they feared for their lives.

Moreover, he said they had given the court until Wednesday to give a clear indication of how they plan to address the issues of the building, which also houses the Durban High Court.

Staff members of the Durban Magistrate’s Court and the public standing outside after being evacuated due to a bomb threat. Picture: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers

Recently, the Sunday Tribune reported that labour unions have called for the immediate closure of the building after the Department of Labour had allegedly not done anything to address its issues.

A recent inquiry into the functionality of the building revealed health hazards and numerous defects. The fire department condemned the building on January 23 last year and instructed it to be shut down because the sprinkler system and water pressure valves did not work.

Sunday Tribune