Four suspects, all illegal Lesotho nationals have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Free State police officer. Constable Justice Sephooa, who was attached to the Ficksburg Crime Intelligence Unit and murdered at his home last month.

AN AMBUSH

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said on 21 January 2025, two unknown men went to Sephooa's house and one of the suspects allegedly shot him twice before they fled the scene. "The suspects were arrested on 1 February 2025, in Stilfontein, North West, after the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation worked together with the North West Tactical Response Team and the National Intervention Unit," Mogale said, adding that the suspects were then transferred to Bethlehem and will be appearing in the Ficksburg Magistrate's Court today, where they are facing a charge of murder."

A PATTERN?

Mogale said a similar incident happened in the same province, where two police officers, Constables Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung, were responding to a house robbery complaint when they were gunned down on Saturday, 4 January 2025. She said they were stationed at the Namahadi police station in Qwaqwa. Mogale said three suspects were arrested for the murders. "The first suspect, a Lesotho national, 32-year-old Pakiso Lethako, was arrested on 15 January 2025. Meanwhile, Marasane Kabelo Anmony (27), a South African, was arrested on Thursday, 16 January 2025, in Makgalaneng village. "He was caught on horseback near the Monontsha Port of Entry in an apparent attempt to escape into neighbouring Lesotho. The suspect was found in possession of a cellphone stolen during the robbery and a firearm suspected to have been used during the murders," said Mogale.

NO ESCAPE 

Mogale added that a third suspect, a 53-year-old man, was traced and arrested in Phuthaditjhaba. "We won't rule out the possibility of more suspects being arrested.