The Bomb Squad was called to Hanover Park on Sunday afternoon after a hand grenade found hidden in an electrical box caused panic.
Residents living in Rywood Walk say the community became rowdy when word spread that one of their neighbours was allegedly “hiding bombs” for gangsters.
A 45-year-old mom, who asked not to be named, says they became aware of the grenade as Law Enforcement officers swarmed the street and evacuated surrounding neighbours.
“It was after 2pm when the homeowner assaulted his wife and there was a stryery with the daughter,” she explains.
“The daughter then ran to the Law Enforcement officers in the area and went to piemp that he is hiding bombs for the gangsters.
“We all got a skrik because we don’t know him to smokkel or worry with gangsters, we only know he does tiling and stuff so we went to look what was going on.”
The woman says cops had their hands full trying to keep nuuskierige mense away.
“The Law Enforcement officers took people living around that house out of their homes for their safety, but almal die mense het kom kyk wanneer bars die ding dan nou.”
Law Enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason, confirms the incident and says officers of the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) were conducting patrols when they were asked for help: “They were approached by an adult female who complained about her mother's husband who had assaulted her mother.
“A case of malicious damage to property has previously been opened against the suspect. When the officers arrived at the residence, he had already left the property.
“Information was then obtained that the suspect was storing firearms for gangsters.
“This led the officers to a shed on the property where they discovered a hand grenade inside.”
He says the officers immediately secured the property.
“The SAPS Bomb Disposal Unit was called and they declared it to be a practice grenade. Practice hand grenades use a high intensity flash to simulate an explosion along with a loud bang, but it is non-lethal. The matter will be investigated by SAPS in terms of the Explosives Act.”