Sikhala Appeals for R100,000 to Cover Legal Fees in South Africa

By Staff Reporter

Prominent opposition politician Job Sikhala has launched an urgent appeal to raise R100,000 to cover legal fees linked to his ongoing court case in South Africa.

The amount is required as a deposit for his legal defence team ahead of the next phase of the trial, which is set to resume on February 3, 2026. Former Zimbabwean Minister of Education and current Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart, is coordinating the fundraising effort and is holding the banking details for potential contributors.

In a letter addressed to what he described as “men and women of conscience,” Sikhala urged supporters to assist financially, insisting that the charges against him are politically motivated.

“The charges against me are baseless, as demonstrated by the bail conditions granted,” Sikhala wrote. “If South African authorities genuinely believed I had committed the alleged offences, I would not have been released on such liberal bail terms.”

Sikhala was arrested in South Africa in November 2025 after police allegedly discovered explosives in a vehicle in which he was travelling with his uncle. He was later granted bail of R10,000 by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on November 13, 2025.

According to Sikhala, his legal team is now preparing for the continuation of the case but requires an upfront payment to proceed.

“Our lawyers require a deposit of R100,000,” he said, adding that Coltart is fully aware of the payment arrangements and can provide further information to those willing to assist.

The South African case comes less than a year after Sikhala’s release in January 2024 from nearly 600 days of pre-trial detention in Zimbabwe, where he had been charged with inciting public violence.

Sikhala has repeatedly maintained that his legal challenges in both Zimbabwe and South Africa are part of sustained political persecution linked to his role in opposition politics.