Zimbabwean opposition politician Job Sikhala, who leads the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), is set to appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court today alongside his associate Alexander Thema, aged 78, following their arrest in South Africa on charges of illegal possession of explosives.
The pair were apprehended in the early hours of Friday morning while travelling in a Ford Fiesta along the N14 highway toward Johannesburg. Their arrest reportedly occurred shortly after they passed the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, a high-security facility in central Pretoria.
Authorities confirmed that Sikhala and Thema were taken into custody and are currently being held at the Pretoria Central Police Station pending their court appearance. According to South African police, a significant cache of explosives was recovered from their vehicle during the operation.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest, revealing that officers, acting on an intelligence tip-off, intercepted the vehicle and discovered 26 blasting cartridges and 15 capped fuse connectors concealed inside.
“The pair has been arrested and will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday facing a charge of being in possession of explosives,” Brigadier Mathe said in a statement issued over the weekend.
Authorities are still investigating the source of the materials and the pair’s intended use for them. However, police sources say that the type of explosives found in Sikhala’s car is commonly associated with illegal mining operations in South Africa’s Free State and Gauteng provinces, as well as with ATM and cash-in-transit bombings.
The arrest has sent shockwaves across the region, not only because of the severity of the charge but also because of Sikhala’s political background. The 53-year-old veteran opposition leader has long been one of the most outspoken critics of the Zimbabwean government, earning a reputation for his fiery rhetoric and frequent confrontations with authorities.
Job Sikhala, Associate to Appear in South African Court Over Explosives Charges
In Zimbabwe, Sikhala is no stranger to controversy or incarceration. Over the past two decades, he has been arrested more than 70 times, primarily on politically motivated charges, including incitement, subversion, and public disorder. Although none of these cases have resulted in conviction, his repeated arrests have turned him into a symbol of political resistance for many in the opposition movement.
Sikhala was last detained in Zimbabwe in 2022, following the murder of opposition activist Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza. Accused of inciting violence in the aftermath of the killing, he spent 595 days in pretrial detention before being acquitted earlier this year. His prolonged incarceration drew international condemnation from human rights groups and diplomatic missions, who described his treatment as a violation of due process.
Following his release, Sikhala relocated to South Africa, where he has been engaging with the diaspora community and leading the National Democratic Working Group, a newly formed movement aimed at mobilizing Zimbabweans for democratic reform.
In the wake of his arrest, the NDWG issued a statement defending its leader and dismissing the allegations as fabricated and politically motivated.
“Honourable Sikhala was subjected to foul play when the vehicle he was travelling in was stopped and searched by SAPS officers,” said NDWG deputy national spokesperson Silenkosi Moyo. “We categorically maintain that the explosives found do not belong to him. We stand firmly beside our leader and will defend him through all legal means available.”
Moyo further accused “hostile political forces” of attempting to discredit Sikhala as part of a broader regional strategy to stifle dissenting voices critical of the Zimbabwean state.
Meanwhile, legal experts in South Africa say the charges are serious but bailable, depending on the outcome of today’s hearing. The court is expected to decide whether Sikhala and Thema will remain in custody or be released on bail pending further investigation.
If convicted, possession of explosives without authorization under South African law can carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. However, Sikhala’s supporters insist that he has no criminal affiliations and that the materials may have been planted to frame him.
“Wiwa has been persecuted for decades for standing up to tyranny,” said a Zimbabwean activist based in Johannesburg who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He is a political refugee, not a criminal. We hope the South African justice system will see through this setup.”
The development has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of exiled political figures in the region and the complex intersection of politics, law enforcement, and cross-border relations between Harare and Pretoria.
As Sikhala and Thema stand before the Pretoria Magistrates Court today, the hearing is expected to attract a large contingent of journalists, supporters, and human rights observers. For many Zimbabweans both at home and abroad, the case symbolizes more than a legal battle—it represents an ongoing struggle for justice, accountability, and freedom of expression in Southern Africa.
Whether the court proceedings will clear Sikhala’s name or deepen the controversy surrounding him remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the seasoned opposition leader once again finds himself at the center of a storm that could have significant political and diplomatic ramifications across the region.
Source- BYO24
