The duo is among a group of eight suspects who were arrested in connection with the murder of a young North West police officer, Thato Makhoana.

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, tells OFM News that the two were part of the five that were granted R2,000 bail each at the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He says so far three suspects, including the 47-year-old Joseph Mathe, who was the first suspect to be arrested, are still in custody and will appear in the same court on 19 August 2020, and the state is expected to oppose their bail. 

Furthermore, Mamothame adds that 21 September 2020 has been set as another court date for the appearance of all eight suspects. The eight suspects, including the minor, are facing charges ranging from hijacking, robbery with aggravating circumstances, to murder.

Mathe was arrested on Tuesday in the Montshioa Stadt Village by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit. The rest, including foreign and South African nationals, were arrested on Friday and Sunday respectively, along with the man said to be the mastermind in the murder of Makhoana, whose body was found alongside the road with multiple gunshot wounds.

Items, which include amongst other a 9mm service pistol, ammunition, and handcuffs belonging to Makhoana, were recovered at a house in Mahikeng.

Following the arrest of others and the confiscation of these items at this house, the police further busted the owners of the house at a hideout in the Majemantsho Village where two more pistols were seized from them. Makhoana’s lifeless body was discovered in Mahikeng and his vehicle was found torched in Majemantsho village near Lomanyaneng - far from where his body was found outside Mahikeng. The 26-year-old was stationed in Mmabatho and he apparently went missing on the morning of Wednesday 29 July 2020, while on his way to visit his sister in Zeerust.

A missing person enquiry was registered at the Mahikeng Police Station after the deceased failed to arrive at his sister's Zeerust home or answer his cell phone. Following his murder, the police in the province launched what is known as a 72-hour action plan to trace his killers.

OFM News