The case of a man accused of murdering his mother was nearly hit by another delay on Tuesday following a bomb scare at court.
Prisoners were evacuated and the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court cleared with mense forced to stand outside in the rain.
For more than an hour, sniffer dogs searched the building after a threat had been received that a bomb was inside Courtroom J, also known as juvenile court.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says: “At 9.14am, the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court received a bomb threat that a bomb will explode at J Court during the day. SAPS K9 and Bomb Disposal units were deployed after all prisoners were evacuated and the building cleared.
SLAIN: Gafsa Roberts
“No persons were injured and no suspicious items found. The court resumed its duties at 10.51am. No persons have been arrested. Police are investigating a charge of bomb threat.”
Shakoor Roberts appeared inside the Regional Courtroom after 2pm where he pleaded not guilty to killing his mom Gafsa Roberts, 61.
Roberts also heard his trial is expected to begin on 23 February. He will remain in custody at Pollsmoor Prison.
For weeks, the case has been delayed.
Gafsa’s badly decomposed body was discovered in the wheelie bin outside her home in Winterhoek Street, Tafelsig, in March 2015, after she went missing.