Linda Katiyo, a Zimbabwean (Zim) woman, will be 48 years old by the time she’s done her 10-year bid for attempting to smuggle enough explosives to bring down the Union Buildings.
Zim woman sentenced to 10 years for smuggling explosives
This was the judgement that was handed down by the Musina Regional Court on Thursday 23 July 2020, according to Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke.
In a trial that dragged for more than a year, the court found that Katiyo had indeed intended to, at the very least, trade deadly explosives to the tune of R1.2 million.
How Linda Katiyo was caught
The court heard how on 28 April 2019, Katiyo tried to make her way into South Africa, from Zimbabwe, at the Beitbridge border. When she was processed for entry, carrying a weighty and highly suspicious bag, she told border security that she was on her way to Gauteng.
“The border police became suspicious and thoroughly searched the bag and found miscellaneous explosives used for illegal mining,” Captain Maluleke wrote.
Katiyo was immediately placed under arrest and processed for charges related to carrying illegal explosives. The charge carried no additional penalties since it is still assumed that she was merely transporting the mass amount of explosives, acting in the capacity of a mule.
Nevertheless, the charge was still serious enough to have her bail remanded for the duration of the trial. After spending 15 months in prison, the Musina Regional Court, on Thursday, added 10 years to her bid.
No other persons believed to be linked to the transit of the illegal explosives was ever placed under arrest.
