State still verifying if Zimbabwean politician Job Sikhala has an existing criminal record

The state said it is still verifying if Zimbabwean politician Job Sikhala has an existing criminal record.

Sikhala appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges of possessing explosives and was released on R10,000 bail.

He was arrested last week after police allegedly found explosives in his vehicle while he was driving through the capital.

During court proceedings, the state revealed that it had contacted the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to confirm reports that Sikhala has been arrested more than 60 times throughout his political career.

After his release on bail, Sikhala told journalists that he believes he was framed.

“I think you have seen the proceedings in court. We always believed that South Africa has an independent judiciary. Here, there are no feja feja [fraudulent] things, there are no feja feja investigations and there is no feja feja judiciary. They have found out that these things have been planted in our car.”

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