14 Zimbabweans remanded in SA

THE trial of 14 Zimbabweans who were intercepted  by South African police last week for smuggling explosives worth R350,000 has been postponed to August 6.

South African police arrested the group of men aged between 18 and 42 at an illegal entry point along the Limpopo River and recovered the explosives.

Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi yesterday said the group was remanded in custody when it appeared before a Musina magistrate on Wednesday.

He said the suspects entered that country illegally and were arrested some 10km east of the border post.

"The 14 suspects appeared before a Musina magistrate charged with unauthorised importation, supply and or possession of an explosive and were remanded in custody to August 6.

"They were arrested after being found in possession of 100 detonators and cartridges worth over R350,000 in their bags," said Brig Mulaudzi.

He said police in the neighbouring country have intensified patrols and searches on travellers in light of an increase in cases of smuggling.

"We are worried about the recurrence of such cases where people try to smuggle these explosives into the country. We suspect these are used for illegal mining activities and ATM bombings," he said.