Thieves snatch Denel detonators

thieves snatch denel detonators

top police officers from the organised crime, regional key point and other units, are investigating the theft of more than 3 000 detonators from a denel munitions plant in philippi on friday, said denel chief executive monwabisi kalawe on wednesday.

it was the second theft from the plant in less than two months. on october 4, 36 smoke grenades were stolen.

the following day two denel employees, jerome blou and gershwin baadjies, were arrested and charged with possession of explosives.

kalawe assured the public shortly after that a national key point security committee of the the police, army and national intelligence agency was helping denel beef up security, but declined to provide details lest he alert criminals.

on wednesday he said denel did not know "at this stage" whether employees were again suspected. he was to meet investigators for feedback.

after the october theft, said kalawe, the investigation team had ordered that denel put in place "certain (security) measures", and "the plant has done that, we have done what we were asked to do".

"the problem with security in general is that the threat changes all the time; (thieves) look for new and innovative ways to breach security," kalawe said.

kalawe said the theft of the detonators had been discovered at 1pm on friday. investigators have yet to determine when the theft actually occurred.

kalawe said thieves had made off with "in excess of 3 000" detonators - "very small items, the size of your fingernail (lengthways)". they were "primary explosives" which were activated to trigger a secondary explosive, and were "harmless on their own", said kalawe.

although the detonators were harmless by themselves, kalawe said the company did not know "what people are capable of putting together, using the detonators."

police remain tight-lipped.

"i can confirm that we are investigating," said national police spokesperson vishnu naidoo. "due to the sensitivity of the investigation, no further information can be disclosed at this stage," said naidoo.