A Zimbabwean Fanie Chirara (54) was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for unlawful possession of explosives by the Musina Regional Court on Monday.
Two foreign nationals were each sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for separate unlawful possession of explosives by the Musina Regional Court on Monday.
In the first case, the court heard that Fanie Chirara (54) was arrested by the police at Beitbridge Port of Entry on 17 January 2025. On the day of arrest, police stopped and searched a bus that was travelling from Zimbabwe to South Africa. During the search, the police found a luggage on top of the fuel tank. When inspecting thoroughly, they noticed that the bag carried explosives.
They then summoned the Musina based Bomb Technicians, Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Local Criminal Record Central to the scene.
The luggage was removed out of the bus. They found three reels of detonating fuse of 350 meters each inside, valued at over R105 000 and a passport. The police then identified the suspect through his passport and put him under arrest. Musina based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit was entrusted with the investigation of the case. The matter was well handled until the accused was sentenced after pleaded guilty.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Limpopo Province Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender commended the investigating officer Captain Makhavhu for the excellent job done.
Meanwhile, in the second case, Emerson Ruzvidzo (26) pleaded guilty at Musina Regional Court and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of explosives.
Ruzvidzo was arrested by the police at Beitbridge Port of Entry on 15 May 2025. During search police recovered 2505 white cartridge tubes and 106 yellow cords explosives inside a trailer. Recovered explosives were analysed and valued at over R330 000.
He was immediately put under arrest. Police seized the recovered explosives, Toyota Quantum, and a trailer that were in possession of the accused. The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit (SOCIU), based in Musina, handled a case for further investigation. Meritorious investigations of SOCIU lead to the conviction and sentence of the accused.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender has praised the investigating officer Lieutenant Colonel Tshivhase for an excellent job done.
Some of the explosives confiscated by the police.