Pretoria - The arrest of an employee, allegedly linked to the recent hoax bomb threat at the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) Operations Centre in Midrand, has been welcomed by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi.
A 28-year-old man will appear at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday for acts of terrorism linked to the recent bomb scare at the Sanral offices.
The man - who works for a service provider on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project - was arrested while on duty on Wednesday at Sanral's Centurion offices, the Hawks have confirmed.
Vadi in a statement on Thursday applauded the swift investigation efforts of the Hawks.
He said neither Sanral nor the government would be intimidated by unlawful acts aimed against the e-toll system in Gauteng.
Vadi said it was appropriate that the alleged perpetrator was charged in terms of South Africa’s anti-terrorism legislation.
The legislation states that a violent attack on transport infrastructure or the arbitrary release into the environment of hazardous or harmful chemicals constituted an act of terror.
“Such acts should be condemned as they are aimed at inducing insecurity within the public; intimidating a state-owned entity or to cause fear and panic in the civilian population,” he said.
Vadi added that opponents of the e-toll system calling for civil disobedience and the wilful disregard of decisions of the courts should in part be held accountable for creating a climate which allows for terrorist activity to be perpetrated by individuals and groups. - SAnews.gov.za
