According to Hawks spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, officers were patrolling the area when they came across a vehicle loaded with suspected stolen goats.

The officers didn’t return to their office afterwards, and contact with their commander at the Community Service Centre (CSC) was lost.

Rikhotso adds the five suspects were traced, arrested and found in possession of a 9mm pistol, which allegedly belonged to one of the two police officers.

OFM News previously reported that a burned police vehicle and the bodies of the two officers had been found after they went missing whilst chasing stock theft suspects.

“The police officers were found brutally murdered in a burned police vehicle on Tuesday. As a result, a multi-disciplinary task team was activated to trace the suspects.  They are going to make their first appearance on July 30 before the Khanyisa Magistrate's Court, where they will be facing charges of murder, malicious damage to property and possession of a stolen firearm,” says Rikhotso.

She adds that prior to their death, neither Constable Simon Ngakaemang Ntsekeletsa (50) nor Sergeant Mojalefa Horatius Molete (42), could be contacted on their cell phones or their radios, which alarmed police officers.

“On 27 July 2021 the police were alerted by community members of blood stains on the road leading to the police station,” says Rikhotso.

Upon arrival at the scene, a knife and one police badge were found with the second badge being located closer to the Mareetsane Road, explains Rikhotso.

She adds that “a hammer, clothing with suspected blood stains and a vehicle have been seized for further investigation”.

She ends off by quoting the National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, who says “we certainly hope that the families of our fallen police officers would find comfort in the arrests of the suspects and look forward to successful prosecution on these criminal acts”. 

He adds that “an attack on the police is an attack on the state and this is why we will leave no stone unturned and will utilise all resources at our disposal to ensure those who commit such heinous acts against our officers in blue are found and face the full might of the law”.

OFM News/Lee Simmons