Zimbabwean opposition politician Job Sikhala (53) and his uncle, Alexander Ferrowst Thema (78), briefly appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday on charges of possession of explosives. Police allege that on 6 November 2025, the pair were stopped while driving along Kgosi Mampuru Street in Pretoria, where a search of their vehicle uncovered 26 blasting cartridges and 15 connector cap fuses.
Sikhala, a former Member of Parliament and senior figure in Zimbabwe’s Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been a vocal critic of the ruling ZANU-PF government. He spent more than a year in detention in Zimbabwe for charges widely viewed as politically motivated before his release in 2024.
His arrest in South Africa has drawn renewed attention to his long-running battles with authorities in both countries.The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that the matter has been postponed to 13 November 2025 for a formal bail application. Both accused remain in custody pending further investigation.
