Two Zimbabwean Men Detained in Barberton Over Explosives Discovery

Authorities in Mpumalanga province apprehended two Zimbabwean men on Sunday after uncovering a substantial amount of explosives concealed in their accommodations at a guesthouse in the New Village area of Barberton.

The operation, guided by intelligence leads, took place on September 28, 2025, targeting a room where the suspects, aged 29 and 33, were staying. Officers located the materials inside a luggage bag and seized them promptly. The individuals offered no satisfactory account for the items in their possession.

Specialists from the police explosives unit arrived at the site to ensure safety and collected the substances for laboratory examination. Initial inquiries point to a possible connection with unauthorized mining efforts in the vicinity.

The pair remains in custody and is slated to face the Barberton Magistrate’s Court in the coming days. They face accusations related to violations of the Explosives Act of 1956, specifically sections addressing unlawful possession.