Several schools in Boksburg – and apparently in other parts of Ekurhuleni – evacuated learners this morning due to bomb threats.

Schools the Boksburg Advertiser is aware of that have received threats include Woodlands, Baanbreker, Concordia and Boksburg High.

The Boksburg Advertiser was at Boksburg High and was informed the learners had been evacuated and the Ekhuruleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) had been at the school and conducted a search, but nothing was found.

The learners were allowed back into the school to write exams.

Principal of Boksburg High Enoch Thango says they received a call from what sounded like a young man who said there was a bomb in the school.

“I phoned the Boksburg SAPS to report this, but nobody answered my call. Fortunately, one of our SGB members is an EMPD officer and she advised us to contact the EMPD,” he said.

“We evacuated the learners onto the field. The EMPD bomb disposal unit arrived and searched the school premises. Fortunately, nothing was found.”

EMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Kelebogile Thepa confirmed they are working with the SAPS and police K9 units to respond to the schools that have received a bomb threat.

“We can confirm we have received information that various schools have had bomb threats and we have sent our members to these schools to investigate. No explosive devices have been uncovered at a school,” Thepa says.

Dewald Kruger, SGB chairperson at Baanbreker, says the receptionist at the school took immediate action after a phone call came through at about 08:20 from what sounded like a voice-disguising recording to inform the school there is a bomb on the premises.

The school believes it was a male voice.

“Our emergency evacuation procedures were immediately instituted. Fortunately, there were only about 150 learners at school today and not our full complement of 850, as exams are finished,” Kruger says.

“Parents were informed to collect their children.”

Kruger says emotions are running high but the children were fine, with only a few crying and anxious.

“The learners were instructed to leave all their belongings in the classrooms and have been sent home for the remainder of the day.”

“We take our emergency procedures very seriously and often have drills, so the children are well aware of procedures. Today some thought it was only a drill, but of course, we are taking this threat extremely seriously with the safety of our learners and staff a top priority.

“While it is understandable that some parents are upset and that emotions are running high – as we are all human – we need parents to support us in situations like this,” said Kruger.

“Messages circulated very quickly on social media about other schools receiving the same threat. It is very concerning.”

The newspaper has heard a recording of the threat made to the School of Achievement.

A young male is heard telling the person who answered the phone “You’ve got a bomb in your school.”
School employee: “We’ve got a what?”
Caller: “A bomb.”
School employee: “A form or a bomb?”
Caller: “A bomb.”
School employee: “As in a bomb? Explosive?”
Caller: “You’ve got 20 minutes to get them out.”
School employee: “Pardon, sir?”
Caller: “You’ve got 20 minutes to get them out.”
School employee: “Are you saying we’ve got a bomb in the school?”
Caller: “Yes.”
School employee: “And whom am I speaking to?”
The call was ended.