Bomb scares: What are they, how and why are they still happening?
The recent bomb scare at Montecasino highlights the significant toll these incidents take on businesses and the broader economy.

If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you’re all too familiar with bomb scares. More often than not, they were just prank calls to the school principal to get out of class.
And according to Smart Security Solutions, around 85% of all bomb threats are generally hoaxes or false alarms.
But still, they happen. Even in this day and age. And they are still treated with the utmost seriousness.
Case in point is the recent incident at Montecasino that occurred on Thursday, 23 January 2025 at around 6pm.
According to a TimesLive report, an anonymous caller called the reception and claimed there was a bomb planted at the cinema section. Patrons who were at the cinema were immediately evacuated and the police were called.
Tsogo Sun’s Montecasino based in Fourways, Johannesburg, is a bustling hub of activity almost every day. According to Tripadvisor, the casino attracts over 9.3 million visitors annually. That’s roughly 25 000 people there a day. Numbers surge on weekends and holidays, making it a prime target for potential chaos should an explosive device ever be planted there.
The destruction caused by such an incident would be devastating, endangering lives and causing severe damage to the area.
This is why authorities treat such threats with extreme caution.
The South African Police Service’s Bomb Disposal unit reports that it attends to bomb-related incidents on a daily basis – mainly ATM Bombings, Cash-In-Transit (CIT) heists, explosives recoveries, and suspicious parcel incidents.
BUT ARE THESE ACTUAL BOMBS WE ARE BEING THREATENED WITH?
Yes, these are real explosive devices. While the explosions they can produce are typically smaller in scale compared to those used in large-scale terrorist attacks, they still pose a quite a threat to human lives and can cause serious harm to both people and property.
WHY WOULD THESE CULPRITS WANT TO USE A BOMB?
There are several reason, according to SAPS Bomb Disposal unit, as to why a bomb might be used. In the case of ATM bombings, it usually is to destroy the hard-to-access machine and gain access to the money inside.
But there are cases where the culprit might aim to spread fear and panic within the community or target a specific group, institution, or event and drive people away from it – especially if they are a competitors in the same industry.
Bomb threats can also be used as a tactic to demand ransom or coerce organisations into compliance, such as halting operations or transferring money under the threat of violence.
Some individuals may also use explosives to draw attention to a particular cause, grievance, or ideology, even if they lack connections to broader terrorist networks. These could be political agendas like in the case of the Church Street bombing on 20 May in 1983.
CONSEQUENCES
Although the South African government does not provide exact figures, bomb threats and related incidents are known to have a significant economic impact on businesses and the broader economy.
This is because the business actually has to shut down operations for an extended period of time.
When a bomb scare occurs, strict procedures are followed under what is called the Bomb Threat Incident Evacuation Plan.
This involves the immediate evacuation of employees and patrons, followed by thorough checks and investigations.
If a suspicious package is found, only the SAPS Explosives Unit is authorised to handle or recover such devices. Bomb Disposal Specialists also conduct investigations, both before and after an explosion.
Constable Mammokso Motaung, a Bomb Disposal Specialists, explained: “”When I arrive at a scene, my first priority is to ensure everyone’s safety by ordering a full evacuation, as bomb scenes are incredibly dangerous. My initial task is to approach the area cautiously and identify the device. Once I’ve determined the type of explosive I’m dealing with, I select the appropriate equipment to handle it. If the bomb has not yet detonated, my primary focus is on safely locating and disposing of it to prevent an explosion and protect lives. However, if the device has already exploded, my responsibility shifts to collecting evidence to aid in the investigation.”
Once the area is secured, police issue a Clearance Certificate, only then allowing businesses to resume operations.
OPEN FOR TRADE
Hours after the threats were received, Tsogo Sun confirmed that it had to follow strict safety protocols, whereby its guests in the area were taken to safety, while the SAPS bomb disposal unit conducted a sweep of the area.
“The threat was unfounded and SAPS has issued a Clearance Certificate. The area has now been cleared and safely reopened. The origin of the threat is now being investigated by SAPS.
The safety of our guests and staff is always our top priority and we thank you for your patience and understanding in this regard,” the casino’s management team stated on its social media.
IF YOU EVER VISITED MONTECASINO, YOU’VE PROBABLY HAD YOUR PERSON AND BAG SEARCHED AT THE DOOR. DO YOU THINK THIS IS ENOUGH IN TERMS OF SECURITY MEASURES OR COULD THESE PLACES BE DOING MORE?
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