Zuko Komisa
- A second Woolworths branch was struck by an explosion at Preller Square Shopping Centre in Bloemfontein during the early hours of Friday 29 May.
- The blast follows an identical midnight detonation on Thursday at the Menlyn Park Shopping Centre branch in Pretoria, which has triggered a US Embassy travel warning.
- Specialised police units and the Hawks are investigating both incidents to determine the motives and the nature of the explosive devices used.
A second Woolworths store in South Africa has been hit by an explosive device, marking the second targeted attack on the retailer in less than 48 hours.
The latest blast occurred at approximately 03:00 on Friday 29 May at the Preller Square Shopping Centre in Bloemfontein. The store manager was alerted by a private security firm, prompting an immediate response from emergency services and specialised police units.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) explosives unit are currently on-site to assess the situation.
While the previous day’s blast in Pretoria caused severe structural damage to a cereal aisle, officials confirmed that the Bloemfontein incident was less destructive.
Following rigorous safety sweeps by the relevant authorities, Preller Square was declared safe and has officially reopened to the public.
This incident closely mirrors Thursday’s early-morning explosion at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria, where an unknown device detonated on a shelf while night-shift staff were inside.
Centre management released a statement praising the swift actions of first responders and confirming that the shop escaped major harm:
“Emergency services and the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded promptly to the scene, and the matter is currently under official investigation. As the investigation remains ongoing, no further information can be disclosed at this stage. We are pleased to confirm that no injuries nor major damage resulted from this incident.”
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