From Parole to Prison Again: Hawks Nab Ex-Robber with Explosives in Mahlabathini

A high-stakes tip-off leads to the arrest of a 69-year-old parolee with a violent past and a deadly stash

A quiet homestead in Mahlabathini turned into a crime scene this past weekend after the Hawks and local police made a shocking discovery: explosives stashed in the home of a man once sentenced to 95 years behind bars.

The 69-year-old suspect, a convicted cash-in-transit robber who walked free on parole in 2018, was arrested after officers uncovered 41 blasting cartridges and three electric detonators at his home. It’s a troubling find, one that raises serious questions about how parole is monitored—and how quickly old criminal networks can resurface.

A Familiar Face with a Deadly Cache

According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, the operation was sparked by an anonymous tip-off. Officers from the Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime unit teamed up with Mahlabathini detectives to raid the residence.

The explosives were found hidden in the house, and the suspect was taken into custody without resistance. The Richards Bay Explosives Unit and the Ulundi Local Criminal Record Centre were brought in to safely handle and document the evidence.

What’s rattling law enforcement is not just the size of the stash, but who had it. The man had served time for a violent 2001 cash-in-transit heist in Camperdown, and though he was released on parole seven years ago, it seems he never truly left the underworld behind.

Back in the Spotlight and the Dock

The suspect is expected to appear in the Mahlabathini Magistrate’s Court this week. Meanwhile, his parole officer has been informed, and the parole violation process is underway.

“This case shows how vital community intelligence is in disrupting organised crime,” said Major General (Dr) Lesetja Senona, the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Provincial Head. “Our teams acted decisively to prevent what could have been catastrophic if those explosives were used.”

Community Reactions: Relief and Anxiety

News of the arrest has spread fast across northern KwaZulu-Natal, especially among locals in Mahlabathini and Ulundi, where residents say they’re both relieved and unsettled.

“People here are tired,” said one community member on Facebook. “We’ve been living with fear for too long. What if these explosives had been used in another robbery?”

Others questioned how someone convicted of such a serious offence could still pose a threat years after release. “Parole shouldn’t mean a free pass,” wrote another user on X (formerly Twitter). “This man had 95 years for a reason.”

Organised Crime Still Lurking in KZN

This latest arrest highlights the ongoing threat of organised crime in KwaZulu-Natal, where cash-in-transit heists, illegal firearms, and now explosives are part of the criminal ecosystem.

South Africa has seen a resurgence in heists involving military-grade explosives—often stolen, smuggled, or hoarded by former offenders with links to old crews. Police believe explosives like those found in Mahlabathini are frequently used in ATM bombings and CIT robberies across the country.

A Wake-Up Call for the Justice System?

The arrest throws the spotlight back on South Africa’s parole system, where high-risk individuals can slip through the cracks. It also raises alarms about the ease with which dangerous materials are circulating.

For now, the Hawks have scored a win—but this bust may just be scratching the surface.

“This was a calculated and coordinated crime prevention success,” said Senona, “but we must remain alert to dismantle the networks behind it.”

As the suspect heads back to court, the community and the country wait to see whether justice will catch up with the past or repeat it.

{Source: IOL}

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