An evaluation of the management and control measures of explosives by the South African Police Service at Beit Bridge border post

Abstract

In recent years, explosives have become a tool of choice used by perpetrators who seek to access cash safes and for use at illegal mining sites. The Explosives Section attends to bombings for cash and the recovery of explosives found in possession of suspects at illegal mining sites. The illegal influx of explosives through the Beit Bridge border post is continuous, and measures should be taken to address it. Although the influx has become an enormous challenge, the researcher observed no attempts by law enforcement, comprising SAPS and other role players, to address it. With the scourge becoming out of control, SAPS needs research solutions to curb and reduce the number of explosives coming from neighbouring countries. The researcher aims to evaluate management and control measures for explosives, determine the prevalence of illegal explosives, identify the challenges encountered by the South African Police (SAPS) in policing them at the Beit Bridge border post, and propose effective measures to address these challenges. The researcher included various role players who work at Beit Bridge to determine how they can be effective in dealing with the influx. Suspects who are arrested in possession of smuggled explosives are mostly from Zimbabwe. When convicted, they serve time in South African prisons. The researcher included convicted explosives smugglers to help provide answers on the accessibility of explosives, possible smuggling methods, transportation routes, and preferred destinations in South Africa. The qualitative method was best suited for this study as it encourages interviews. The Explosives Section in the SAPS has been identified as the custodian of the Explosives Act, but a lack of capacity and resources continues to hamper investigative efficiency. Other role players at Beit Bridge knowledge or the training to identify explosives. Explosives are known to be dangerous and considered weapons of mass destruction.