Palmview Primary bomb threat sparks debate about security at schools
A bomb threat caused panic and prompted an immediate evacuation at the Palmview Primary School yesterday, as staff received two alarming phone calls warning of a explosive devices hidden on the premises.
The messages, both allegedly from the same male caller, were made minutes apart, igniting a swift response from emergency services and law enforcement.
At approximately 12:12pm, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officers and paramedics were on the scene, joining forces with officials from the SAPS Phoenix division.
School personnel, who were visibly shaken by the events, recounted the moments that led to the urgent call for help. They described receiving two consecutive calls that led to the immediate decision to evacuate all learners to the safety of the assembly area, adhering to the school's emergency protocols.
“We received two calls – one after the other, a few minutes apart – from a man telling us that an explosive device was placed at the school. We immediately called the authorities and began evacuating the children and staff while we waited for them to arrive,” said the staff member who did not want to be named.
The SAPS Explosives Unit was dispatched to the scene, where they undertook a thorough search of the school grounds and buildings.
RUSA spokesman Prem Balram said despite the tense atmosphere and the serious nature of the threat, the exhaustive search concluded with relief as no explosives were found on the property.
“We were all just very relieved when the explosive unit found nothing. We all know of people playing pranks with regards to bombs at schools but this time, with the two phone calls, we were really concerned.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security measures in place at educational institutions, prompting discussions among parents, educators, and law enforcement officials.
Mr Balram said the authorities are now focusing on tracing the origin of the calls and have initiated an investigation into the matter.
