Court in South Africa evacuated over bomb scare: Report

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - A court in South Africa was forced to evacuate on Wednesday due to a bomb scare.

State broadcaster SABC TV reported that the judge had asked all people in the court in the Nelspruit town of eastern Mpumalanga province to leave after he was told of a bomb threat.

Mandla Msibi, 45, a former provincial minister accused in a double murder case was set to appear in court for a bail application.

Msibi was sacked from his position by the provincial Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane on Tuesday night, saying she had taken the decision following the seriousness of the charges the minister faces.

In a statement on late Monday, police said the now former Mpumalanga agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs minister had surrendered in connection with at least two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

“He is alleged to have been involved in a shooting where two people were fatally shot and a third person was wounded on Aug. 22 in Nelspruit,” police said.

Scores of people who were protesting outside the court for a second day chanting slogans demanding Msibi’s release were told by police to move away from court precincts for their own safety as an explosives team visited the site.

When contacted for comment officials said they would provide details in due cause.