Mitchells Plain residents got a skrik on Saturday when children found a hand grenade in a Portlands park just a month after soldiers were seen being dropped with a helicopter.
Resident Bradley de Bruyn, 21, says he got the fright of his life when he arrived home shortly after 2pm and was told his little brother Ethan, 11, carried the grenade and handed it to an off-duty traffic cop.
“Ethan and his friend Cassidy Gamba, 10, were playing near the seesaw in Welkom Park here in Caledon Close,” Bradley explains.
“He says they found the grenade partially buried in the park and it was a bit rusted.
“It still had the pin in it and Ethan knew exactly what it was.
“I got the fright of my life as I just got home and heard he picked it up and carried it to a family friend, Malcolm van der Meulen.
“He is a traffic cop but was off duty.”
CURIOUS: Kids found the deadly weapon. Picture supplied
Bradley says Malcolm took the grenade from the children and put it in a plastic bag and first kept it in the back of the yard while they waited for police.
But then they took it back to the park because they were scared it might explode.
“He took it out of the yard and put the packet again in the park because we were bang something would happen in the yard.
“We were so frightened to have a grenade so close.
“Mitchells Plain police arrived and all they did was take Malcolm’s name and the grenade.
“We were expecting the bomb squad or something but they didn’t even take a statement.”
Off duty traffic cop, Malcolm van der Meulen. Picture supplied
Bradley says the discovery caused concern among parents in Portlands who are speculating that the grenade might belong to the army.
“Everyone wants to know where did it come from and how long was it there because it wasn’t completely buried.
“About a month ago the army was here and they dropped down from a helicopter.
“I remember it very clearly, they had about 10 police officers and dogs with them.”
SKRIK: The device was found in Welkom Park
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms police were called to the scene, saying: “They spoke to the complainant who pointed out that there were children who found a rusty brown grenade and that they were playing with it.
“The complainant handed over the grenade to SAPS members who immediately contacted the Bomb Disposal Unit who took the grenade with them for further tests and discarding.
“An enquiry has been opened for further investigation”.
WORRY: Rusty hand grenade in Portlands. Picture supplied