Disaster averted as Lenasia South CPF and residents neutralize live grenade threat in Hospital Hills

On 4 September, residents of Hospital Hills were left in shock after a M26 grenade was found behind the Lenasia South hospital wall in a dumping area. The grenade was discovered by men who were recycling, after noticing children playing with the dangerous object.

Morgan Mahlangu and Sifiso Cwecwe, who operates a tyre business in the same veld, recounted the terrifying experience to GLOBE POST: “We were called by some men to come see what the children were playing with. When we arrived, we found out it was a grenade. I quickly took it from the children and kept it safe until the police arrived. It was a scary experience-imagine if they had pulled the pin, we all would have died. We still wonder who put it there. Was it dropped accidentally or was someone planning to bomb the hospital? We thank God it was discovered in time.”

Laura Chauke, who runs a nearby shop, expressed her fear: “I was terrified, everyone was. No one expected to find a grenade here. It just shows how unsafe our country has become. We could have died; I’m still shaking.”

Lenasia South’s CPF Public Relations Officer, and Sector 3 head, Ridwan Mohamed added: “At around 3pm, I was called to Hospital Hills by Sector 3 patroller Vincent Baloyi, soon after the grenade was found. The men who discovered it said it was discovered after a bakkie came to dump rubbish. We’re still not sure if it fell from the vehicle or it was deliberately placed there. What we do know is that, fortunately, the children didn’t pull the pin. That grenade could have caused serious harm and the bomb squad had to clear the area.”

Mohamed thanked Baloyi, Sector 3 SAPS Manager, Sgt Takalani Malisha, Ashlin Naidoo – Rapid Response Security for alerting Bomb Disposal Unit and Sector 3’s EMS Commander – Imraan Abrams. Hospital Hill residents are now calling for the veld to be cleared, stating that its poor condition makes it easy for dangerous items to be hidden there. Many say they no longer feel safe, not knowing who placed the grenade there or what their intentions were.

The M26 is a defensive fragmentation hand grenade. It can release up to 1,000 fragments out of 10m, with a lethal radius – for 50% casualties – 5m. Danger area: 25m on soft ground extending up to 300m on hard ground.