Greater awareness needed against possible threats: Expert
A counter-terrorism expert believes shop-owners and mall managers need to be more aware of the security measures that they have in place.
Jasmine Opperman has been speaking to East Coast Breakfast after several explosive devices were found in and around Durban recently.
Opperman says there needs to be a greater awareness by all South Africans:
Opperman says we have a right to be concerned.
"Do we have an effective intelligence capability at this point that will support law and order structures to execute their duties?" she asked.
"I look at this situation and I have serious reservations."
In the first incident, a device was found in the Woolworths at The Pavilion. Hours later, a device was found at the Woolworths at Gateway.
Another device was located at the Gateway Woolworths on Saturday morning.
Two devices were then found placed under cars in the Musgrave and Mornigside areas on Saturday night.
Police say a suspicious device found at a store in Wentworth, south of Durban yesterday afternoon was not an explosive, although sources say a controlled detonation by the bomb squad was carried out.
National police spokesperson, Vish Naidoo has reiterated that the device was examined, but the results came back negative.
Opperman feels there needs to be a closer collaboration between authorities and private security guards, as the latter are often the first on the scene of reported incidents - especially in malls and shopping centres.
"Do we have an effective intelligence capability at this point that will support law and order structures to execute their duties?" she asked.
"I look at this situation and I have serious reservations."
Several explosive devices have been found in Durban since Thursday last week.
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In the first incident, a device was found in the Woolworths at The Pavilion. Hours later, a device was found at the Woolworths at Gateway.
Another device was located at the Gateway Woolworths on Saturday morning.
Two devices were then found placed under cars in the Musgrave and Mornigside areas on Saturday night.
Police say a suspicious device found at a store in Wentworth, south of Durban yesterday afternoon was not an explosive, although sources say a controlled detonation by the bomb squad was carried out.
National police spokesperson, Vish Naidoo has reiterated that the device was examined, but the results came back negative.
Opperman feels there needs to be a closer collaboration between authorities and private security guards, as the latter are often the first on the scene of reported incidents - especially in malls and shopping centres.