Latest news with #Mathipa
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ten more SANDF members arrested in Hawks officer murder case
Ten SANDF members have been arrested for the 2023 murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, bringing the total number of suspects to twelve. Ten additional South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a senior official from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks. The ten additional suspects were arrested on Monday after they handed themselves over to the Hawks investigating officers in Johannesburg. This comes after two members were arrested at separate locations on Sunday night by members of the Johannesburg branch of the Hawks and assisting tactical units. 10 more SANDF members handed themselves over to Hawks The suspects are believed to be linked to the 2023 murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa. Mathipa 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. ALSO READ: Two SANDF members arrested for murder of Lieutenant Colonel 'Following the shooting, Mathipa's vehicle lost control and veered into a ditch,' confirmed Hawks' spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo. Singo said Mathipa was on duty conducting an investigation at the time of his death. All ten additional suspects — including the two arrested on Sunday — appeared before the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Monday afternoon to face charges of murder and kidnapping. Case postponed to 1 July The court postponed the case against the 12 officials to 1 July for a formal bail application. According to the Hawks, the court order prohibits the disclosure of the accused's identities. Investigators have also linked the suspects to the kidnapping of two male foreign nationals at a mall in Midrand on 29 December 2025. ALSO READ: SANDF budget constraints: SAAF needs R414 million to refurbish Ramaphosa's presidential jet 2nd high-profile incident The arrests are the second high-profile incident involving military members this past weekend. 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.
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Soldiers arrested for murder of Hawks officer Frans Mathipa facing three counts of murder
The 12 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members accused of killing Hawks officer Lt-Col Frans Mathipa are facing three counts of murder. They are also facing several other charges, including two counts of kidnapping, making false statements under oath, obstructing the administration of justice, theft and fraud. The 12 soldiers appeared in the Randburg magistrate's court on Monday. The court ordered the media not to publish their names or pictures as an identity parade must still be conducted. The case was postponed to July 1 for a bail application and the soldiers remanded. The court heard that the matter will be transferred to the high court within the Gauteng jurisdiction. On Sunday, the Johannesburg-based Hawks' serious organised crime investigation team arrested two soldiers, aged 36 and 51, linked to the murder of Mathipa. During the operation, police also seized a vehicle belonging to the 36-year-old suspect. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the kidnapping of two male foreign nationals at a mall in Midrand on December 29 2022. On Monday, 10 more soldiers were arrested after they handed themselves over to the Hawks investigating officers in Johannesburg. Mathipa was fatally shot while driving on the N1 highway near Hammanskraal on August 6 2023. After being shot his vehicle veered out of control and landed in a ditch. Mathipa, who was attached to the Hawks' crimes against the state section within the serious organised crime investigation unit in Gauteng, was on duty conducting an investigation at the time of his death. The Sunday Times reported he had been investigating the abduction of alleged Isis leader Abdella Abadiga from the Mall of Africa in Johannesburg and was looking into suspicions that South African military special forces were involved. Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Christopher Singo said the accused are also linked to a case involving the kidnapping of two foreign nationals in December 2022. 'At this moment, we cannot reveal their identity as per the court instructions. An identity parade has to be conducted. Their names and identities will only be revealed after we are done with the identity parade,' he said. He added that Mathipa was responsible for investigating high-profile cases. 'Some of those cases involved the accused who are appearing in court, but I cannot get into the details of those cases.'
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Two SANDF members arrested for murder of Hawks officer
Hawks officers arrested two SANDF members linked to the murder of a senior officer and a previous kidnapping case. Image: File Two South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members, aged 36 and 51, face arrest in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, a senior Hawks officer, and a separate kidnapping case. ADVERTISEMENT The Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation units and Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS) coordinated to arrest the suspects on Sunday, 22 June 2025, at OR Tambo International Airport and in Centurion, Pretoria. Lt Col Mathipa was fatally shot while driving along the N1 highway near Hammanskraal on 6 August 2023. After the shooting, his vehicle veered off the road and landed in a ditch. Mathipa, who was on duty, was part of the Hawks' Crimes Against the State section in Gauteng. Kidnapping Link and Vehicle Seized As part of the investigation, officers seized a vehicle belonging to the 36-year-old suspect. ADVERTISEMENT Authorities believe one suspect allegedly used the car to kidnap two foreign nationals at a Midrand shopping mall on 29 December 2022. Police impounded the vehicle for forensic examination as they pursue additional leads into the suspects' possible involvement in other organised crimes. Court Appearance and Ongoing Investigation Both suspects are due to appear before the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Monday, 23 June 2025. Facing charges of murder and kidnapping. The Hawks confirmed that they may make further arrests as the investigation continues. ADVERTISEMENT Authorities are investigating whether the suspects are part of a larger criminal network. Are authorities doing enough to protect law enforcement officers from targeted attacks? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
Two SANDF members arrested for murder of Lieutenant Colonel
One of the SANDF members is also allegedly linked to the 2022 kidnapping of two foreign nationals from a mal in Midrand. Two South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members have been arrested in connection with the murder of a senior official. The pair were arrested at separate locations on Sunday night by members of the Johannesburg branch of the Hawks and assisting tactical units. Both are due in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Monday and are expected to face charges of murder and kidnapping. SANDF murder suspects The suspects, aged 36 and 51, are believed to be linked to the 2023 murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa. Mathipa 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. 'Following the shooting, Mathipa's vehicle lost control and veered into a ditch,' confirmed Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo. The suspects were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport and a location in Centurion on Sunday. 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. Stabbing in Mpumalanga The arrests are the second high-profile incident involving military members this past weekend. 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. NOW READ: SANDF budget constraints: SAAF needs R414 million to refurbish Ramaphosa's presidential jet
TimesLIVE
13 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Two soldiers arrested in connection with murder of Hawks investigator
Two soldiers have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Hawks officer in 2023. Lt-Col Frans Mathipa was fatally shot while driving on the N1 by assassins who pulled up alongside him and opened fire with an assault rifle. Mathipa was attached to the Hawks' crimes against the state section within the serious organised crime investigation unit in Gauteng. The Sunday Times reported he had been investigating the abduction of alleged Isis leader Abdella Abadiga from the Mall of Africa in Johannesburg and was looking into suspicions that SA military special forces were involved. On Sunday, the Hawks said two suspects, aged 36 and 51, were arrested at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and in Centurion, Pretoria. "During the operation, police also seized a vehicle belonging to the 36-year-old suspect. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the kidnapping of two male foreign nationals at a mall in Midrand on December 29 2022. It has impounded for further forensic investigation," said Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Christopher Singo. The suspects are due in court on Monday to face charges of murder and kidnapping.
