Kabelo Tlhabanelo
The man arrived at the Bram Fischer Airport in Bloemfontein and was getting ready to board a flight to Cape Town on Monday where he lives.
But the 28-year-old wouldn’t make it home, as he was arrested after he was found in possession of a drill hand-grenade.
People were evacuated from the airport terminal building and the bomb squad called.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane said it is alleged that the father of the suspect was in the military.
Covane said the suspect was in Bloemfontein to fetch his dead father’s belongings.
He told Scrolla.Africa: “The suspect arrived at the airport and reported at the check-in counter where he handed over his luggage to be searched. The G4S officer placed the passenger’s bag inside the X-ray scanner which detected the metal inside the bag and the round object was visible on the monitor.”
He said a drill hand grenade was found inside the bag and police at the airport were called to the scene.
It appears the man didn’t know that the item found in his possession would put him on the wrong side of the law.
He is facing two charges, possession of a hand-grenade shell and interference with Airport operations.
He was arrested and detained and will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.
