Man, 21, caught with numerous explosives after collaborative police effort in North West

The importance of removing illegal explosives from South Africa’s streets cannot be underestimated.

Cash-in-transit heists are becoming an almost daily occurrence, with over 200 such robberies recorded in 2024, tragically killing three bystanders and injuring 13, according to the Cash-In-Transit Association of SA (Citasa).

ATM bombings have also been on the rise, particularly in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West, as have illegal mining activities.

In response, police have been honing in on the sale of illegal explosives and one such operation in Klerksdorp was the arrest of a 21-year-old Zimbabwean man.

After receiving information that the man was selling explosives, members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) pursued the young man and a chase ensued, eventually leading to his arrest in a section of bush near a shopping mall.

Officers found a variety of explosives inside his vehicle, including 30 blasting cartridges, capped fuses and 50 meters of detonating cord.

Investigations showed that these explosives are typically used in cash transit heists, ATM bombings as well as illegal mining activities.

The man is expected to appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 10, 2025, on charges of unlawful possession of explosives.

This follows numerous arrests in the past month linked to the sale and use of explosives.

On February 12, Mpumalanga police arrested six suspects aged between 22 and 38 in Barberton after they were allegedly found in possession of explosives suspected to be used in illegal mining activities.

On February 13, KwaZulu-Natal police arrested four suspects and seized five firearms, said to be linked to a recent cash heist, as well as mining explosives.

Members of the public with information on such activities are urged to report it to the SAPS Crime Stop number (08600 10111) or through the MySAPS app, which can be done anonymously.

IOL