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Sikhala to appear in SA court today
2 hrs ago |
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National Democratic Working Group leader Job Sikhala (53) and his associate Alexander Thema (78) are expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court today after being arrested by South African police for illegal possession of explosives.
The two were taken into custody early Friday morning while travelling in a Ford Fiesta along the N14 highway towards Johannesburg, shortly after passing Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. They are currently detained at Pretoria Central Police Station.
Authorities have not yet established the intended use of the explosives, but police sources say such materials are commonly linked to illegal mining activities in the Free State and Gauteng provinces, as well as ATM and cash-in-transit bombings.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest, revealing that police recovered 26 blasting cartridges and 15 capped fuse connectors from Sikhala's vehicle following a tip-off.
"The pair has been arrested and will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday facing a charge of being in possession of explosives," said Brig Mathe.
Sikhala, a prominent opposition figure and former legislator in Zimbabwe, has been living in South Africa in recent months. His arrest has drawn widespread attention across the region, given his political profile and previous brushes with the law in Zimbabwe.
Further investigations are underway to determine the source of the explosives and whether the two men are linked to any criminal syndicate.
The two were taken into custody early Friday morning while travelling in a Ford Fiesta along the N14 highway towards Johannesburg, shortly after passing Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. They are currently detained at Pretoria Central Police Station.
Authorities have not yet established the intended use of the explosives, but police sources say such materials are commonly linked to illegal mining activities in the Free State and Gauteng provinces, as well as ATM and cash-in-transit bombings.
"The pair has been arrested and will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday facing a charge of being in possession of explosives," said Brig Mathe.
Sikhala, a prominent opposition figure and former legislator in Zimbabwe, has been living in South Africa in recent months. His arrest has drawn widespread attention across the region, given his political profile and previous brushes with the law in Zimbabwe.
Further investigations are underway to determine the source of the explosives and whether the two men are linked to any criminal syndicate.
Source - The Herald
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