A Cape Town man accused of attempting to commit acts of terrorism by allegedly placing explosives at three locations in Bellville, in an apparent hoax will soon hear his fate.
Ferdinand Fortuin's case has been transferred from the Bellville Magistrate's Court to the Bellville Regional Court on April 24, where he faces four counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act (POCDATATA) and charges under the Explosives Act.
National Prosecuting authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the prosecution was formally authorises by the National director of public prosecutions before the transfer.
According to the state, the 49-year-old Mamre resident called Bellville police station on November 11, 2024, claiming he had placed explosive devices at:
- The Department of Water and Sanitation offices in Voortrekker Road and Bellville South,
- The Transnet Park building,
- The Bellville taxi rank, the bomb threats triggered mass evacuations and a large scale emergency response.
"At the Water and Sanitation offices in Voortrekker Road, 164 people were evacuation, while 151 were removed from the Bellville South offices, said Ntabazalila.
“At the Transnet Park Building 250 people were evacuated and the taxi rank, 3000 people had to be removed. The taxi rank and surrounding roads were shut down, causing widespread panic and disruption."
Although the threats were later found to be a hoax, the BPA said the charges remain serious.
"The legislature has criminalised the conduct under POCDATATA, and the criminal law amendment act prescribes a minimum of 15-year sentence for a first offender," Ntabazalila said.
" The NPA will not hesitate to prosecute such cases to the fullest extent of the law."
Fortuin's case follows the arrest of a 16-year-old boy, accused of planning an extremist attack on Cape Town International Airport and Mavericks nightclub.
The Hawks' Crimes Against the State Unit arrested the teen at his home after he was allegedly recruited via social media by an extremist group. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said the authorities raided a Melkbosstrand property in December 2023 after intelligence revealed the boy was allegedly plotting attacks.
"No explosive devices were found, but electronic devices including a PlayStation, four gaming consoles, computer equipment, and a cellphone were seized for analysis, Vukubi said.
The Hawks also linked the teenager to an earlier incident at the Melkbosstrand Catholic Church, where the Statue of Mary was beheaded and defaced with graffiti.
The teen has since been placed in a secure centre.
Cape Argus