National Instruction 6/1999

Hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive

items,
articles and devices as well as potentially
explosive items

NATIONAL INSTRUCTION 6/1999

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL,
EXPLOSIVE ITEMS, ARTICLES AND DEVICES AS WELL
AS POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ITEMS
1.

2.

Background
(1)

It is the duty of the Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa and the
Department of Health to handle radioactive materials and hazardous
substances. An agreement reached between the relevant institutions and
the Service entrusted the task to handle radioactive material and
hazardous substances when encountered during a search or found
during investigations and other police actions, to the Explosives Unit.

(2)

The purpose of this Instruction is to enable members to identify

hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive items, articles and
devices as well as potentially explosive items and to ensure its safe
handling and securing.

Definitions
In this Instruction, unless the context otherwise indicates,
(a)
active member means a member of the Explosives Unit or Special Task
Force who has successfully completed the prescribed Bomb Technicians
Course and has been appointed in terms of the Explosives Act, 1956 (Act
No. 26 of 1956) by the Chief Inspector of Explosives and who has not
served as an active member for more than 24 months without having
successfully completed the prescribed Refreshers Course in Explosives
during that period;
(b)

explosive means any explosive substance or article defined or listed in

the Explosives Act, 1956 (Act No. 28 of 1956) and includes military
explosives, petrol bombs, home-made bombs, commercial explosives and
fireworks;

(c)

explosives incident means any incident where it is believed that an

explosive substance or article has been unlawfully used or any substance
has been unlawfully altered or adapted to create an explosion and
includes any incident where there is a possible threat of an explosion,
such as when a suspicious parcel is found or in the case of a bomb
threat;

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National Instruction 6/1999

3.

Hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive

items,
articles and devices as well as potentially
explosive items

(d)

fireworks means pyrotechnic articles which are manufactured for the

purpose of amusement or entertainment, producing a visible or audible
effect of combustion, deflagration or explosion in the form of heat, colour,
illumination, sound or smoke effects or a combination thereof;

(e)

hazardous substance means a substance as defined in the Hazardous

Substances Act, 1973 (Act No. 15 of 1973) read with the Regulations;

(f)

home made bomb means a device that is fabricated in an improvised

manner incorporating explosives or destructive, lethal, noxious,
pyrotechnic or incendiary chemicals, which is designed to destroy,
disfigure, distract or harass and is also referred to as an improvised
explosive device;

(g)

radioactive material means material as defined in the Nuclear Energy

Act, 1999 (Act No. 46 of 1999) read with the Regulations;

(h)

red mercury means a substance, liquid or gas in a container which is

usually marked with the wording: Red Mercury or :P20/20 Colour Red; and

(i)

technical explosives operator means a member of the Special Task

Force who has successfully completed the prescribed Bomb Technicians
Course.

Responsibility of every station commissioner

A station commissioner must keep an updated list of names and contact
numbers of the nearest Explosives Unit and the contact details of the standby
bomb technician in the Community Service Centre. The following numbers can
be used to compile a list with contact numbers:
Explosives Unit: 0827784296 or (012) 393 2783

4.

Reporting of information
(1)

A commander must ensure that all information on a substance or material

that is being presented by persons as radioactive or hazardous is
reported immediately by telephone and by fax or e-mail to:
The Commander
Bomb Disposal and Research
SAPS Bomb Data Centre
Private Bag X624
PRETORIA
0001

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National Instruction 6/1999

Hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive

items,
articles and devices as well as potentially
explosive items

Telephone number: (012) 393-2783

All-hours emergency number: 082 778 4296
Fax number: (012) 393-2780 or
E-mail: bombdata@saps.org.za.
(2)

5.

6.

The commander of the Explosives Unit must on receiving a report of an

incident, ensure that active members under his or her command attend
to the scene immediately.

Information of incidents
(1)

The Bomb Data Centre is the only database in which records of all
incidents and information related to explosives are kept. Any information
on explosive recoveries, statistics or incidents that do not originate from
an official Bomb Data Centre document may not be accepted as correct
information.

(2)

No information pertaining to incidents or statistics related to explosives

will be issued without the approval of the National Commander of the
Explosives Unit or the person designated by the National Commander.

Identification of radioactive material and hazardous

substance
(1)

Marked substances or material

Legitimate radioactive material, hazardous substances and apparatus
containing radioactive sources are labelled as follows to enable
identification:

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National Instruction 6/1999

(2)

7.

Hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive

items,
articles and devices as well as potentially
explosive items

Unmarked material or substances

Unmarked or illegally possessed radioactive material or a hazardous
substance can be identified by referring to the following characteristics:
(i)
is normally a solid substance, powder, gas, pasta or a liquid; and
(ii)
the colours of uranium vary from yellow, green, black and greenblack, and red mercury is red and the canister may be silvercoloured.

Procedure when dealing with any hazardous substance,

radioactive material, explosive or potential bomb incident
(1)

When any hazardous substance, radioactive material, explosive is found,

the member on the scene must without delay follow the following
procedure:
Step

(2)

Action

Refrain from touching, tampering with, smelling or tasting

any suspicious item.

Cordon off the immediate area.

Contact Radio Control and request the assistance of the

Explosives Unit.

Keep all people away from the suspicious item and ensure
that it is not tampered with.

Comply with all instructions given by the member of the

Explosives Unit.

Avoid diluting or washing away powders and chemicals.

Keep people away from all areas or vehicles that may be

contaminated by any substance.

Refrain from making any statements to members of the public

or the media about the incident. Media liaison to inform and
reassure the general public must occur with great
circumspection where the possibility of mass-hysteria exists.

If radioactive material or hazardous substances are found, a member may

under no circumstances by his or her own conduct, expose persons,
vehicles, buildings and items to radiation, contamination or a toxic
hazard.

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National Instruction 6/1999

8.

Handling of radioactive materials, hazardous substance,

explosives, explosives ordnance and explosive accessories
(1)

Only an active member may handle radioactive materials, hazardous

substances, explosives, explosives ordnance and explosive accessories.

(2)

No member of the Service, except an active member may

(a)
touch, tamper with, remove, open, or otherwise handle any
suspicious item, article, parcel, letter or any suspicious substance,
liquid, powder or vapour;

(3)

9.

Hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive

items,
articles and devices as well as potentially
explosive items

(b)

touch, tamper with, dismantle, inspect or remove any suspected

explosive device, explosive substance or explosive ordnance that
has been found at a scene or found abandoned or found in the
possession of a suspect or on premises or in a vehicle where a
suspect is being sought;

(c)

touch, tamper with, inspect or remove any suspected explosive

device, explosive substance or explosive ordnance found in the
possession of a suspect or on premises or in a vehicle or were a
suspect is being sought;

(d)

perform the physical postblast investigation of a scene where an

explosion has taken place or it is suspected that a potential
explosive device has exploded; or

(e)

remove any exhibit from a scene where an explosion has taken

place or it is suspected that a potential explosive device has
exploded to any station or holding area without the permission of
the bomb technician who attended the scene. No explosive
residue, remains or exhibits may be handed in or be kept at a
police station.

A technical explosives operator, stationed at the Special Task Force, is

exempted from subparagraph 2(b) and (c) above.

Removal, transporting and storing of radioactive material

and hazardous sub stances
(1)

If a bomb technician receives radioactive material or hazardous

substances, he or she must
(a)
enter it into the SAPS 13 at the nearest police station and
acknowledge receipt for it; and
(b)
remove it from that station and transport it to the radiation

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National Instruction 6/1999

Hazardous substances, radioactive material, explosive

items,
articles and devices as well as potentially
explosive items

magazine at the Explosives Unit, Head Office, Pretoria, for

safekeeping pending court cases.

10.

(2)

Because of the danger to human life and damage to property, radioactive

materials and hazardous substances must not under any circumstances
be conveyed in or be placed in a government-owned vehicle or vessel for
safe custody which has not specifically been built for that purpose.

(3)

Radioactive materials and hazardous substances must be transported

only in the police vehicle specifically built for that purpose.

(4)

The instruction on the handling and transportation of radioactive materials

and hazardous substances, as set out above, is applicable to all related
actions within the borders of the Republic of South Africa, as well as in
any other country where members of the Service is deployed to assist
any other legitimate institution.

(5)

The Explosives Unit, Head Office has storage facilities specifically built
to hold explosive exhibits and items.

Transportation and destruction of explosives, explosives

ordnance and explosive accessories
(1)

Only an active member of the Explosives Unit or Special Task Force may
transport or destroy explosives, explosive ordnance and explosive
accessories.

(2)

The instruction on the handling and transportation of explosives, as set

out above, is applicable to all related actions within the borders of the
Republic of South Africa, as well as in any other country where members
of the Service is deployed to assist any other legitimate institution.

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