Wentworth community traumatised
A Wentworth councillor says last night's bomb scare at a local shopping complex has left the community traumatised and in a state of panic.
The bomb disposal unit was called in after a suspicious parcel was found at a Spar in Austerville.
It is understood the unit later carried out a controlled explosion.
WATCH: Parcel detonated by Bomb Squad
Police have maintained it was not a bomb.
Ward councillor Aubrey Snyman says he has received calls from many concerned residents.
"Concern in the sense that it is not the first time a suspicious parcel has been brought to the area," he says, "As soon as it was mentioned there was a suspicious parcel, the police were informed and they cordoned off the area and took the staff away".
He says the staff was "emotional" when the Bomb Squad detonated the device.
This follows the discovery of at least five improvised devices in Durban last week.
READ: Durban July reveler who found improvised device under car: 'I have kids'
Three of them were found inside the Woolworths stores at the Pavilion and Gateway shopping centres.
Another was found placed under the car of a Durban July reveller on Saturday night.
And another, in Avondale Road.
The Hawks have taken over the investigations.
Spokesperson Hangwani Malaudzi says they are going through the dockets.
"We can confirm we did view the dockets but they were referred to us late yesterday," he says, "We will be having a series of meetings on this criminal activity".