Cape man who made hoax bomb threats to skip work sentenced to 5 years in jail

A 50-YEAR-OLD Western Cape man who made a hoax call to police telling them that he planted bombs at various places so he could skip work has been sentenced to an effective five years in jail.

- JOLENE MARRIAH-MAHARAJ

Ferdinand Fortuin was sentenced in the Bellville Regional Court after he pleaded guilty to the crime.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Fortuin contacted police in November 2024, telling them that he had planted bombs at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet Offices, and the Bellville taxi rank.

He said Fortuin made these threats on November 11, 2024, after a night of heavy drinking because he didn't want to go to work.

“He left his home in Mamre with the hope that the roads leading to Bellville would be closed because of his bomb threats. They were not, and he worked the whole day.”