Four illegal Lesotho nationals have been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing a police officer at his home in the Free State. File Photo
Image: File Photo
Four illegal Lesotho nationals have been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing a police officer at his home in the Free State.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said Constable Justice Sephooa was attached to the Ficksburg Crime Intelligence Unit.
Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale said on January 21, 2025, two unknown men went to Sephooa's house and one of the suspects allegedly shot him two times before they fled the scene.
Mogale said the suspects were arrested on February 1, 2025, in Stilfontein, North West, after the Hawks' Serious Organized Crime Investigation worked together with the North West Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the National Intervention Unit (NIU).
She said they were then transferred to Bethlehem and will be appearing in the Ficksburg Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where they are facing a charge of murder.
In the same province, two police officers, Constables Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung, were responding to a house robbery complaint when they were gunned down on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
They were stationed at the Namahadi police station in QwaQwa.
Mogale said three suspects were arrested for the murders.
The first suspect, a Lesotho national, 32-year-old Pakiso Lethako was arrested on January 15, 2025.
Meanwhile, Marasane Kabelo Anmony, 27, a South African was arrested on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Makgalaneng village.
"He was caught on horseback near the Monontsha Port of Entry in an apparent attempt to escape into neighbouring Lesotho. The suspect was found in possession of a cellphone stolen during the robbery and a firearm suspected to have been used during the murders," said Mogale.
A third suspect, a 53-year-old man, was traced and arrested in Phuthaditjhaba.
Mogale said they won't rule out the possibility of more suspects being arrested.
Anyone with information is urged to call detective Captain Michael Masekoa on 082 455 6063.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL