South Africa
Zimbabwean politician, co-accused remain in custody over explosives─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:57 Tue, 11 Nov 2025
A Zimbabwean politician and his co-accused will remain in police custody until the next court appearance, following their arrest for alleged possession of explosives.
Job Sikhala, 53, and his uncle Alexander Ferrowst Thema, 78, appeared briefly before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday (10/11), where their case was postponed to Thursday (13/11) for a formal bail application, said Gauteng NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana. The duo is facing charges of possession of explosives.
They were arrested last Thursday after being stopped by police while driving along Kgosi Mampuru Street in Pretoria’s CBD. During a search of their vehicle, officers reportedly found 26 units of blasting cartridges and 15 connector cap fuses.
Officers acted on information that the men were travelling in the city with dangerous materials, said national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
“Police received a tip-off that people were travelling in a Ford Fiesta in Pretoria during the early hours of Friday morning. When police spotted the said vehicle, they stopped it and found 26 blasting cartridges and 15 capped fuse connectors.”
Sikhala, a former opposition leader in Zimbabwe and a vocal critic of the ruling Zanu-PF government, has faced numerous arrests in his home country over political activities. His detention in South Africa has drawn renewed attention to his turbulent political career.
Zimbabwean politician Job Sikhala and his uncle Alexander Ferrowst Thema were allegedly found in possession of explosives. Photo: Facebook
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, police rescued three young women from Botswana at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Friday (7/11). The women, aged between 20 and 23, were allegedly lured by a trafficking syndicate through social media under the false pretence of job offers in Sierra Leone, said police spokesperson Lt Col Amanda van Wyk.
“The victims were en route from Botswana to Sierra Leone via South Africa and Nairobi when they were intercepted and rescued by members of Interpol NCB Pretoria and the Germiston Serious organised crime investigation unit after landing at O.R. Tambo International Airport,” said Van Wyk.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the Botswana High Commission in Pretoria had alerted Interpol to assist in tracing the missing victims.
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