A fire extinguisher made to look like a bomb, but without explosives, was found in a dustbin outside the Witbank Magistrate's Court's main entrance on Monday morning, Mpumalanga police said.
“Police found a 9kg fire extinguisher which was cut open on the top and a pipe was connected with some putty to a battery pack and watch, police spokesman Eddie Hall said.
“You could see it looked like a bomb and could have had explosives inside.”
The court had been cordoned off and evacuated. The parcel was sent to Pretoria for further testing.
Right-winger Willem Ratte was expected to appear in the court later on Monday. Ratte and nine other people were arrested during a police raid on his farm in Balmoral, Mpumalanga in September. They face charges of illegal possession of dagga, unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Hall said police were not sure whether the package was linked to the Ratte case, but they were investigating. - Sapa