SAPS report raises questions in Zim opposition leader’s case

A South African Police Service (SAPS) forensic report has reportedly found no fingerprints belonging to Zimbabwean opposition politician Job Sikhala or his uncle, Alexander Thema, among the prints lifted at the scene of an explosives case they are facing in Pretoria.

SAPS forensic report finds no matching fingerprints

The report, dated 16 July 2026, was compiled by the SAPS Local Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.

It compared the fingerprints and palm prints of the two men with those recovered during investigations.

The findings were marked “NEGATIVE”, indicating that neither man’s prints were identified, either fully or partially.

The development raises fresh questions about the prosecution’s case against the two Zimbabweans, who have consistently denied possessing the explosives allegedly discovered in their vehicle.

Sikhala and his uncle deny explosives charges

Sikhala and Thema were arrested on 6 November 2025 after police stopped and searched their vehicle along Kgosi Mampuru Street in Pretoria.

According to reports of the case, officers discovered 26 blasting cartridges and 15 connector cap fuses during the search.

The two men were subsequently charged with possession of explosives and granted bail of R10 000 each.

The state did not oppose their release.

Job sikhala case: Defence alleges explosives were planted in vehicle

Sikhala, a former Zimbabwean legislator and leader of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), has maintained that he was framed.

His defence has alleged that he was lured to a meeting in Pretoria, where one of the individuals briefly left with the vehicle keys.

The lawyers believe this provided an opportunity for the explosives to be planted in the vehicle.

Outstanding forensic evidence raises further questions

The case was postponed to 3 August 2026 to allow investigators to complete outstanding forensic investigations.

According to a report by House of Africa, the matter was subsequently postponed to 28 August to allow prosecutors to assess the investigation docket and determine whether there was sufficient evidence to proceed.

The latest developments have also raised questions about the handling of the forensic evidence.

The Observer Zim reported that fingerprint and DNA results, together with CCTV footage allegedly showing the explosives being planted, were missing from documents handed to the defence.