The Hawks arrested ten more South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members on Monday, 23 June.
This brings the total number of suspects linked to the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa to twelve.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo confirmed that the group handed themselves over to the Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation unit in Johannesburg.
Court Appearance and Charges
All twelve accused now face charges of murder and kidnapping. The newly arrested suspects joined two previously detained SANDF members at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The court postponed the matter to 1 July 2025 for a formal bail application.
A court order currently prohibits the disclosure of the accused’s identities
Details of the Murder
Lt-Col Mathipa, a senior Hawks officer, was fatally shot while driving along the N1 near Hammanskraal in August 2023.
His attackers pulled up alongside his vehicle and opened fire, causing his car to veer off the road and crash.
Linked to the 2022 Kidnapping Case
Investigators have also linked one of the suspects to a separate case involving the kidnapping of two foreign nationals at a Midrand shopping mall on 29 December 2022.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out further arrests.
Should SANDF members accused of serious crimes like murder and kidnapping face harsher consequences?
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