Hawks arrest two men after explosives found at Mpumalanga lodge

Two men are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court after the Hawks said a large quantity of commercial explosives was recovered during an intelligence-led operation in Mpumalanga.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said the suspects, a 37-year-old undocumented foreign national and a 36-year-old South African citizen, were arrested at a lodge along the R40 in Nelspruit on Friday.

According to the Hawks, officers found 50 electric detonators, 80 blasting cartridges and 32 connector cords. The recovered material was estimated to have a street value of R130,000. Two cellphones were also seized.

The men had been travelling in a grey Hyundai i20, which investigators impounded as part of the inquiry.

The operation involved the Hawks’ Nelspruit Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, National Crime Intelligence, Fidelity Security Services, Fairview Mine and members of the Illicit Mining Operation Vikela Barberton. The police Explosives Unit and Local Criminal Record Centre were called to the scene to handle the material and record evidence.

The Hawks said the operation followed information that two men allegedly carrying explosives would be at the lodge. Officers moved in after receiving confirmation that the suspects were on the premises.

The suspects face charges under the Explosives Act and Immigration Act. Their identities had not been released when the official report was issued, and the allegations against them have not yet been tested in court.

Mpumalanga Hawks head Major-General Nico Gerber praised the teams involved for acting quickly on the intelligence. Formal charges are expected to be put to the accused before their first court appearance.