Twelve members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) who were detained in connection with the killing of Hawks investigator Lieutenant-Colonel Frans Mathipa have had their bail applications delayed until July.
Charged with murder and kidnapping, the 12 SANDF officials made an appearance at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Singo, the court’s order prohibits the disclosure of the identities of the 12 accused.
He stated that their bail application was delayed until July 1.
Two SANDF officials, ages 36 and 51, were taken into custody on Sunday at OR Tambo International Airport and in Centurion, Pretoria, according to Singo.
Members of the tactical operations management section, the serious organised crime investigation’s headquarters, and the Johannesburg-based Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation were responsible for the arrests, he said.
Ten more suspects, who are also SANDF officials, were taken into custody on Monday after turning themselves in to the Hawks investigating officers in Johannesburg.
Kidnapping of foreign nationals
The military officials were arrested in connection with the August 6, 2023, murder of Mathipa, who was shot dead while travelling on the N1 highway near Hammanskraal, outside Pretoria.
After the shooting, Mathipa lost control of his car, and it crashed into a ditch, according to Singo.
“Lieutenant-Colonel Mathipa, who was attached to the Hawks’ crimes against the state section within the serious organised crime investigation in Gauteng, was on duty conducting an investigation at the time of his death.
“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,” said Singo.
The car has since been seized for additional forensic examination, according to Singo.
Additionally, the 12 SANDF suspects are linked to the abduction of two male foreign nationals on December 29, 2022.
At the time of his death, Mathipa was looking into the abduction of the two foreign males.
