South Africa Nuke break - in: A perp is found?

Remember the mysterious and (little reported upon) break in at Pelindaba? Here's the latest.

A 20-year-old Malawian, Eric Nyirenda, made a second brief appearance in court yesterday in connection with the daring break- in at the Pelindaba nuclear facility west of Pretoria two weeks ago.

Nyirenda, who lives on a plot in Broederstroom less than 15km from the facility, is suspected of being part of the gang that breached security at the complex.

A security chief, Anton Gerber, was shot in the chest during the incursion. He is recovering at home.

Nyirenda’s case was postponed to November 28 in the Brits Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

He is provisionally charged with attempted murder and armed robbery.

Police spokesman Superintendent Louis Jacobs said the investigating team hoped to make more arrests soon: “That will enable us to figure out exactly who played what role in this crime.”

The chief executive of the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rob Adams, said that six of Pelindaba’s senior security staff had been suspended pending an internal investigation into the attack, which he described as having been carried out by “technically sophisticated criminals”.