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Former legislator and opposition activist Job Sikhala has been granted R10 000 bail by the Pretoria Magistrates Court following his arrest in South Africa on allegations of possessing explosives.
Sikhala, 53, was arrested alongside his 78-year-old uncle, Alexander Ferrowst Thema, and the pair are expected back in court on February 3, 2026.
The former Zengeza West Member of Parliament — who has long been a prominent voice in Zimbabwe’s opposition politics — was taken into custody last week after South African authorities reportedly found explosives in a vehicle he was travelling in.
However, the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), a political movement aligned with Sikhala, has strongly denied the allegations, describing the arrest as a case of foul play.
In a statement released yesterday, the NDWG claimed Sikhala had been “subjected to suspected foul play” when his vehicle was stopped and searched by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“We categorically maintain that the explosives found do not belong to him,” the group said.
“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 NDWG added that its legal team was “actively engaged on-site” in Pretoria to ensure Sikhala and his uncle receive a fair trial.
Sikhala’s arrest in South Africa comes less than a year after he was released from detention in Zimbabwe, where he had spent over 500 days in prison facing charges of inciting public violence.
His case has since reignited debate around the treatment of opposition figures both at home and abroad, with supporters insisting that the latest charges are politically motivated.
The Pretoria court ordered Sikhala and Thema to surrender their passports and remain within South Africa pending their next appearance.
