Pretoria – Zimbabwe opposition politician Job Sikhala, who was arrested after police found explosives in his car, has been freed on R10 000.
Sikhala was granted bail on Thursday, 13 November 2025, on his second appearance before the Pretoria Magistrate’s court.
The 53-year-old opposition politician was arrested along with his 78-year-old uncle, Alexander Ferrowst Thema, on Thursday, 6 November 2025, after they were stopped and searched by police while driving along Kgosi Mampuru Street.
Sikhala’s uncle, Thema, was also granted bail of R10 000.
The state alleges that the two accused were found with 26 units of blasting cartridges and 15 units of connector cap fusers in their car.
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The state did not oppose bail, citing affidavits confirming the legal status of the two accused in South Africa.
Sikhala is on a valid visa, and Thema holds a South African identity document.
The case was postponed to February 3, 2026.
Speaking after his release, Sikhala said he believed South Africa has an independent judiciary and the authorities had found out that the explosives were planted in his car.
“Here there is no feja feja judiciary,” he said to ululation from supporters who had gathered outside the court.
Some of them carried placards reading, ”No 2030” in apparent reference to Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to extend his second and last term by two terms.
