Hanover Park residents were left in shock after a loud explosion was heard in the area on Thursday evening, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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Soon after, social media platforms and community news groups flooded with questions and debates regarding the source of the unexpected sound, with some speculating that the explosion was caused by a hand grenade and others stating it was a petrol bomb.
In the comments section of community Facebook group Cape Flats Stories’ post, many added that they had recently heard similar explosion-like sounds in some areas around Cape Town.
Mariane Isaacs: ‘Something must be up. My husband is on leave and said that yesterday afternoon, around 3pm, he also heard a noise, like a bomb, going off here in Eersterivier.’
Chantel Holm Marinus: ‘Last night, it sounded like a bomb went off in Kewton Athlone as well. Was extremely loud. After 1am.’
Olwen Mitchell: ‘Heard a loud sound in Vanguard earlier and was thinking “What the hell is that?” Not sure if sound can travel so far but definitely heard a loud bang.
Christine Laubscher: ‘Yesterday, in Uitsig also…I believe.’
Others questioned where someone would be able to obtain a hand grenade
Hanover Park Community Policing Forum secretary Yaseen Johaar, who alleged that it was a petrol bomb, told News24 that the petrol mixture caused the loud explosion, making it sound like a grenade.
While unable to point to a definitive device, police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana confirmed that ‘an unknown object’ had indeed been thrown onto a premises in Lucerne Road, Hanover Park by an ‘unidentified person’.
No injuries were reported but the windows of the property were damaged.
‘The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,’ added Manyana. ‘Philippi police registered a case of malicious damage to property for further investigation.’
The incident follows just a week after the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the City of Cape Town came together to officially sign the Western Cape Cooperation Agreement for Safety and Policing.
The agreement aims to bolster security in Cape Town through joint manpower as well as technology and resource collaboration.
Hanover Park resident Mitchel Marinus, who had heard the explosion, told News24 that after hearing the sound of gunfire day and night, she immediately knew something was off.
‘I initially thought it was a gun, but the sound was too strong for that,’ said Marinus.
While talking about the incident, Marinus emphasised the urgent need for serious crime intervention.
‘We are prisoners in our own homes. We need help with crime,’ she added. ‘I can’t even visit friends during the day now because I might get caught in the crossfire.’
Another resident, Craig Lewis, told the publication that Hanover Park community members were ‘dying like flies’ while waiting for government intervention.
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Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images