News / National
Zimbabwean explosives smuggling convict jailed 15 years
25 Aug 2023 at 23:14hrs | Views
A SOUTH African court has sent to jail for 15 years a 43-year-old Zimbabwean who was recently arrested for smuggling an assortment of explosives worth thousands of rand into that country.
Josephat Bayayi was convicted on his own plea of guilty to charges of violating the Customs Act.
He was sentenced to 15 years' direct imprisonment without an option of a fine.
Bayayi was intercepted at the Beitbridge Border Post in July by members of the South African Revenue Services (SARS) who then referred the case to South Africa's specialised police the Hawks.
Limpopo spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke confirmed the sentence yesterday.
He said they are not relenting in their quest to fight crime around the province.
"In July 2023, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) personnel were busy scanning the vehicles at Beitbridge Port of Entry when they noticed suspicious items that were loaded in a red Iveco truck with a trailer. The truck was coming from Zimbabwe," said Lt Col Maluleke.
"The Beitbridge Port of Entry based police, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and Bomb Technicians were then summoned to the scene.
"The truck was searched and the team found 14 reels of detonating fuses, 747 superpowers, 90 blasting cartridges and 875 carmex connector capped fuses valued at R456 850,00 and seized them."
He said Bayayi was immediately placed under arrest for smuggling the explosives. The case was opened and the docket was later transferred to the Musina-based Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further handling.
Lt Col Maluleke said during the investigations, it was revealed that the explosives were coming from Zimbabwe and destined for Johannesburg in Gauteng Province.
"Through the meritorious efforts of the investigating officer, the accused was denied bail and kept in custody until he was convicted and sentenced by the Musina Regional Court today, Tuesday August 22, 2023," he said.
The jailing comes a few weeks after another 32-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver was jailed for an effective 15 years by the same court for smuggling a contraband of explosives via the Beitbridge Border Post.
Amon Jokwiro, from Murehwa was arrested after he was found with 397 units of blasting cartridges marked Superpower 90 Solar Explochem Zambia Limited.
The smuggling of explosives between Zimbabwe and South Africa is rife and border authorities from both countries have arrested more than 10 people for similar offences in the last six months.
It is understood that the explosives are being used mainly by syndicates involved in illegal mining activities in Gauteng and Free State provinces.
Josephat Bayayi was convicted on his own plea of guilty to charges of violating the Customs Act.
He was sentenced to 15 years' direct imprisonment without an option of a fine.
Bayayi was intercepted at the Beitbridge Border Post in July by members of the South African Revenue Services (SARS) who then referred the case to South Africa's specialised police the Hawks.
Limpopo spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke confirmed the sentence yesterday.
He said they are not relenting in their quest to fight crime around the province.
"In July 2023, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) personnel were busy scanning the vehicles at Beitbridge Port of Entry when they noticed suspicious items that were loaded in a red Iveco truck with a trailer. The truck was coming from Zimbabwe," said Lt Col Maluleke.
"The Beitbridge Port of Entry based police, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and Bomb Technicians were then summoned to the scene.
He said Bayayi was immediately placed under arrest for smuggling the explosives. The case was opened and the docket was later transferred to the Musina-based Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further handling.
Lt Col Maluleke said during the investigations, it was revealed that the explosives were coming from Zimbabwe and destined for Johannesburg in Gauteng Province.
"Through the meritorious efforts of the investigating officer, the accused was denied bail and kept in custody until he was convicted and sentenced by the Musina Regional Court today, Tuesday August 22, 2023," he said.
The jailing comes a few weeks after another 32-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver was jailed for an effective 15 years by the same court for smuggling a contraband of explosives via the Beitbridge Border Post.
Amon Jokwiro, from Murehwa was arrested after he was found with 397 units of blasting cartridges marked Superpower 90 Solar Explochem Zambia Limited.
The smuggling of explosives between Zimbabwe and South Africa is rife and border authorities from both countries have arrested more than 10 people for similar offences in the last six months.
It is understood that the explosives are being used mainly by syndicates involved in illegal mining activities in Gauteng and Free State provinces.
Source - The Chronicle
