Polokwane – South African Police Service officers attached to Polokwane International Airport arrested two Zimbabwean men on Friday, 28 November 2025, after discovering a substantial quantity of commercial explosives in their vehicle during a routine roadblock on the N1 North, just outside Polokwane, Limpopo.
The arrests took place in the early hours of the morning as part of an ongoing crime-prevention operation in the Capricorn District. Police stopped a white Toyota Quantum minibus towing a trailer that bore Gauteng registration plates. The vehicle had crossed into South Africa from Zimbabwe and was en route to Johannesburg.
A search of the minibus and trailer revealed seven large bags containing explosives, along with 2 150 connector fuses, 40 detonator cords, and 247 booster cartridges. Authorities estimate the total street value of the seized items at approximately R2.5 million.
Both suspects, aged between 45 and 50, were placed under arrest on the scene for the unlawful possession of explosives. The Toyota Quantum minibus and its trailer were impounded to form part of the ongoing investigation.
The two men remain in police custody and are scheduled to make their first appearance before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 1 December 2025, where they will face formal charges related to the illegal possession of explosives.
Police have not yet disclosed the intended purpose of the explosives or whether the incident is linked to any wider criminal network. The investigation continues under the direction of the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime Unit and Explosives Section.
