Sikhala released on R10,000 bail

A former Zimbabwean Member of Parliament, Job Sikhala, has been released on bail on Thursday after he was allegedly found with explosives.

The 53-year-old was arrested alongside his elderly uncle Alexander Ferrowst Thema, 78, and appeared at the Pretoria Magistrates Court's where they are facing charges of possession of explosives.

They were both released on R10,000 bail each.

Gauteng regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Lumka Mahanjana, said on November 6, 2025, the two accused were stopped by police while driving along Kgosi Mampuru Street.

"When the police searched for the car, they found 26 units of blasting cartridge and 15 units of connector cap fusers," said Mahanjana.

She added that in court, the State did not oppose bail and there was confirmation that both accused are in the country legally- Sikhala holds a valid visa, while Thema has a South African identity document.

The matter was postponed to 3 February 2026 for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) in Zimbabwe has denied that explosives allegedly found in Sikhala's vehicle belonged to him.

In a statement, the NDWG said Sikhala was "subjected to what is believed to be suspected foul play" when the vehicle he was travelling in was stopped and searched by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The NDWG said its legal team was "actively engaged on-site" to secure the opposition leader's defence.

"We categorically maintain that the explosives found do not belong to him," the statement added. "As the National Democratic Working Group, we stand unwaveringly beside our leader and reaffirm our commitment to defending him through all legal means available."

The group appealed to the public to keep Sikhala in their thoughts and prayers during what it described as "challenging times."

Sikhala's arrest in South Africa comes less than a year after his release from detention in Zimbabwe, where he was arrested for allegedly inciting public violence. Rights groups and opposition figures previously accused the Harare government of persecuting him for his political activism.

Sikhala remains one of the most vocal critics of Zanu PF and continues to speak out against corruption and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

His latest arrest has sparked fresh concern among Zimbabweans in the diaspora and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his detention in South Africa.

On the other hand, other sections of the Zimbabwean society accuse Sikhala of being involved in crime and celebrated his arrest in Pretoria.