Security personnel stationed at Tuynhuys, the Cape Town office of The Presidency, today received a suspicious parcel. Following preliminary investigations by security personnel and the bomb disposal unit of the SA Police Service, the parcel was detonated.

It was then discovered that the parcel contained a coffee machine, which was sent by a Cape Town company as a surprise birthday gift to Mr A. Kathrada, Advisor to President Mandela.

Following the detonation, the bomb experts have confirmed that the parcel did not contain any bomb or explosive device. Their actions however were justified in the context of the uncertainty around the content of the parcel; and the detonation was necessary as a precautionary measure.

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