Two South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members are appearing today at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court to face charges of murder and kidnapping of a senior official.
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The pair were arrested at separate locations on Sunday night by members of the Johannesburg branch of the Hawks and assisting tactical units. The suspects, aged 36 and 51, are believed to be linked to the 2023 murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa who was working for the Hawks’ Crime Against the State division when he was shot while driving along the N1 near Hammanskraal on 6 August 2023.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo said, “Following the shooting, Mathipa’s vehicle lost control and veered into a ditch.” One of the suspects is also allegedly tied to a December 2022 kidnapping incident involving two foreign national victims at a mall in Midrand. “During the operation, police also seized a vehicle belonging to the 36-year-old suspect. It has since been impounded for further forensic investigation,” Singo added.
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In a different incident On Saturday, two SANDF soldiers were stabbed to death by a colleague at the Macadamia military base near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga. “The circumstances surrounding the incident remain the subject of ongoing inquiry, and further details will be communicated once officially verified,” stated SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala. “We appeal to the public and media to allow the investigative processes to unfold without speculation and to respect the dignity and privacy of the affected families during this difficult time,” he advised.
