Man caught with explosives at Joburg taxi rank gets 3 years in jail

A man who was found in possession of explosive devices at a Johannesburg taxi rank last year has been sentenced to three years imprisonment by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court.

Tawanda Mbira, 25, was sentenced after pleading guilty on Friday.

"We hope this sentence will scare away would-be offenders from committing the same crime," Captain Xoli Mbele said in a statement.

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Mbele said that Mbira was spotted carrying a "suspicious white plastic bag" during a routine crime prevention inspection at the Wanderers taxi rank on June 29, 2017. He was apprehended after he dropped the bag and ran away. Police officers chased him down and arrested him.

Police discovered an explosive Carmex connector, capped fuses and a detonating cord in the plastic bag.

The court also declared Mbira unfit to possess a firearm.

During the course of the trial, Mbira was denied bail and remained in police custody until he was convicted.

Mbele said Mbira's conviction was a result of "diligent work done by an investigating officer".