Zimbabwean Man Jailed 15 Years for Smuggling Explosives Into South Africa
A 33-year-old Zimbabwean man, Brighton Fore, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being caught smuggling a stash of explosives into South Africa through the Beitbridge border.
Zimbabwean Man Jailed for Smuggling Explosives Into South Africa
Fore was convicted on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, by the Musina Regional Court after spending over a year behind bars awaiting trial. His arrest was part of ongoing joint efforts by Zimbabwean and South African authorities to clamp down on cross-border crime.
According to South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, Fore was travelling on a bus from Zimbabwe to South Africa when he was stopped at the Beitbridge port of entry on 29 January 2024. During a routine search, officers discovered a suspicious bag. Inside it, they found 94 detonator cartridges and 100 capped fuses.
Specialised units were quickly called to the scene. Bomb disposal experts confirmed the items were indeed live explosives.
Fore was immediately arrested and charged with unlawful possession of explosives. His bail applications were repeatedly denied over the past year, leading up to this week’s sentencing.
Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa confirmed that the case was handed over to their Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit based in Musina.
Also read: Murder For Hire: Zimbabwe Woman Paid Hitmen Only US$200 To Kill Ex-Husband
Ongoing Concerns About Cross-border Smuggling
Reacting to the outcome, Hawks Limpopo provincial head Major General Gopz Govender welcomed the ruling. He praised the efforts of the investigating team and issued a clear warning to others thinking of engaging in similar criminal acts. In short, if you smuggle explosives, expect to be caught and go to jail.
The smuggling of explosives through the Zimbabwe–South Africa border remains a serious concern. Authorities believe most of these items are being supplied to criminal syndicates involved in illegal mining, especially in Gauteng and the Free State. Over 10 people have been arrested for similar offences at Beitbridge in just the past six months.
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