MINE WORKER CAUGHT WITH EXPLOSIVE PRILLS
Boitekong/ Rustenburg – Police have expressed concern over the growing problem of commercial explosives falling into criminal hands, following the arrest of a mine worker found in possession of explosive prills. Explosive prills are small, bead-like granules (usually of ammonium nitrate) that look a bit like tiny white pellets. On their own, ammonium nitrate prills are not explosive, but it’s a key ingredient in the widely used, low-cost industrial explosive ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil).
On Tuesday afternoon, 2 September 2025, security personnel at a Boitekong mine apprehended Abongile Mbulawa (40) after he was discovered carrying explosive prills. He was immediately handed over to the police and appeared before the Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 4 September 2025. Mbulawa was remanded in custody until his next appearance on Thursday, 11 September 2025.
The acting provincial commissioner of North West, major general Patrick Asaneng, stressed the seriousness of the arrest: “The significance of this arrest cannot be overstated. Commercial explosives, which should be carefully controlled and safeguarded, are often diverted for use in violent crimes such as cash-in-transit robberies. By intercepting this suspect, we prevented dangerous materials from being sold into criminal networks.”
Police investigations continue and may lead to more arrests as authorities work to trace where the explosives were intended to go.
Photo: Explosive prills – tiny pellets with the potential to become powerful blasting agents in the wrong hands.
