Law to get tough on hoax callers

HOAX callers making bomb threats could face both criminal prosecution and civil claims for wasting police resources.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the SAPS viewed the pranks in a serious light and anyone caught could find themselves in jail.

The warning came after three hoax calls were made, claiming that there was a bomb inside Woolworths in Cornubia Mall, one in the Commercial City building in the Durban CBD and at the Phoenix police station yesterday.

Shoppers were evacuated and Cornubia Mall was shut down as police dog and bomb units combed the store.

But the police did not find anything suspicious.

Woolworths said the store was evacuated to ensure the safety of employees and customers.

The incident was the fourth bomb scare at a Woolworths store, after one device detonated and caused a fire and another was defused at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

A device was also found at the chain’s Pavilion store.

A spokesperson for Cornubia Mall said once police gave the all-clear the mall was reopened and back in business.

“It appears to have been a hoax,” the spokesperson said.

KZN VIP chief executive Glen Naidoo said several security companies, the police and emergency medical rescue teams went to the Phoenix police station after it received the threat.

“The police station was evacuated and searched. Nothing was found,” Naidoo said.

Police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said hoax calls caused disruption while depleting stretched police resources.