Bomb threat at Johannesburg High Court

The Johannesburg High Court has been evacuated following a bomb threat. Convicted criminals Radovan Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, former East Rand organised crime Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng, Jan Lefu Mofokeng and George Jeff Nthoroane, and Siboniso Miya were in the middle of sentencing proceedings. They were convicted of various charges in August relating to kidnapping, dealing in drugs, and attempted murder.

As court resumed after lunch, a police member came into court and whispered something to prosecutor advocate Louis Mashiane, who then informed sitting Judge Colin Lamont of the threat.

Lamont left immediately while Tactical Response Team officers bolted down a side corridor to secure him. According to a National Intelligence officer present in court, the threat was not made to Krejcir's court specifically, and the entire building was evacuated.

Krejcir had tried unsuccessfully on several occasions yesterday to have proceedings postponed. There was no bomb at the High Court in Johannesburg, officials said after the entire building had to be evacuated yesterday.

Court official Zoleka Sondlo confirmed that no bomb had been found at the court. "After lunch, we received a call from a guy saying there was a bomb in the court," Sondlo said.

Sniffer dogs were brought in and after an extensive search, no explosive device was found.

The bomb threat resulted in the disruption of the sentencing proceedings of Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, who has been convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder.

Sondlo said sentencing would resume again today at 0930hrs.