A Tale of Two Judiciaries: Job Sikhala Granted Bail in Pretoria, Highlighting Stark Contrast with Zimbabwean Pre-Trial Detention
By Sona Reporter | Sona Headlines
Former MP and current Chairman of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), Job Sikhala, has been granted R10,000 bail by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court in South Africa following his arrest on charges of possessing explosives. The swift decision has ignited a fierce debate, drawing a sharp and unavoidable comparison to the nearly two years he spent in a Zimbabwean prison, where he was repeatedly denied bail on different charges.
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| Job Sikhala's bail hearing in South Africa has drawn comparisons to his lengthy pre-trial detention in Zimbabwe. |
The Pretoria Ruling: Bail Granted
Job Sikhala and his uncle, Alexander Thema, were arrested last week after police allegedly discovered explosives in their vehicle in Pretoria. Appearing before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 13 November 2025, both men were granted bail of R10,000 each. The case has been postponed to February 3, 2026.
Sikhala’s lawyer, Norman Maluleka, assured the court of his client's compliance, stating, "He is not the kind of man who can simply disappear without anybody noticing. He also has strong family ties in South Africa and Johannesburg within the court’s jurisdiction."
A Tale of Two Justice Systems
The swift granting of bail in South Africa stands in stark contrast to Sikhala's recent experience in his home country. In Zimbabwe, he was arrested in June 2022 on charges of inciting violence and spent nearly two years in pre-trial detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Between 2022 and 2023, his bail applications were rejected at least six times by Zimbabwean courts, which consistently ruled that there were "no changed circumstances" to warrant his release. This prolonged detention without trial drew widespread condemnation from human rights groups and political commentators.
NDWG Hails "Fairness" of SA Judiciary
The National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), which Sikhala chairs, released a statement praising the South African courts. The group expressed its "satisfaction with the recent court decision" and commended the judiciary for the "fairness demonstrated in this matter."
The NDWG statement continued, "This outcome illustrates the effectiveness of an independent and well-constituted justice system operating with minimal political influence. It also sets a valuable precedent for the professional administration of the judiciary in South Africa, reinforcing the principles of impartiality and integrity."
Author's Commentary: The Mirror of Justice
This case is no longer just about Job Sikhala. It has become a powerful, albeit unintended, comparative analysis of two different judicial philosophies. On one hand, we see the South African court applying a standard legal principle: bail is a right, and an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, especially when they are not considered a flight risk. The decision appears procedural, unemotional, and rooted in law.
On the other hand, this same case holds up a mirror to the Zimbabwean experience, and the reflection is deeply unsettling. Sikhala's nearly 600 days of pre-trial detention, despite numerous bail attempts, has long been viewed by critics not as a legal necessity but as a form of pre-emptive political punishment. The NDWG's pointed praise of a justice system with "minimal political influence" is a thinly veiled indictment of the system back home.
The R10,000 bail fee is a trivial amount in the grand scheme of things. The real currency in this story is trust—and the outcome in Pretoria has, for many observers, significantly devalued the public's trust in the impartiality of Zimbabwe's own judicial processes.
Quick Facts
He and his uncle were arrested on charges of possession of explosives after the items were allegedly discovered in their vehicle in Pretoria.
He and his uncle were each granted R10,000 bail, and the case was postponed to February 3, 2026.
The fact that he was granted bail on his first appearance in South Africa for a serious charge, whereas in Zimbabwe he was denied bail at least six times on a different charge and spent nearly two years in pre-trial detention.
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