Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Job Sikhala has reportedly been taken into custody by South African authorities after alleged explosives were discovered in his vehicle.
The 53-year-old opposition figure is being detained at Pretoria Central Police Station while investigations continue.
Although the South African Police Service has not yet issued an official statement, sources close to Sikhala allege that his arrest may have been politically orchestrated by Zimbabwean intelligence agents seeking to silence one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s most vocal critics.
According to individuals familiar with the matter, Sikhala was contacted by people claiming to represent Joseph Kabila’s rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group allegedly offered to collaborate with him on initiatives aimed at “restoring democracy” in Zimbabwe. Sikhala reportedly agreed to a meeting, unaware that it would culminate in his arrest after police were tipped off about supposed explosives.
Images circulating on social media appear to show Sikhala handcuffed and seated near a roadside barrier alongside an elderly companion. Another photo shows what looks like explosives wrapped in a yellow plastic bag.
Speaking to local media, Sikhala’s wife said her husband had attended a meeting the evening before his arrest. She claimed that one of the attendees requested his car keys to “check something,” returning them about half an hour later. Shortly after leaving the venue, police allegedly intercepted the vehicle and uncovered the explosives during a search.
Legal representatives from both Zimbabwe and South Africa are reportedly collaborating on Sikhala’s defence. His supporters argue that the arrest signals an increasing trend of cross-border efforts to clamp down on dissenting voices opposed to Zimbabwe’s “Vision 2030” agenda.
Sikhala, a veteran opposition activist and former Member of Parliament, has faced numerous arrests over the years for his political activities in Zimbabwe. He is expected to appear before a South African court in the coming days.
