Murder Case Bail Hearing for 12 SANDF Members Back in Court

(The Post News)- The bail hearing for twelve South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Special Task Force members facing charges related to murder is expected to resume today, 03 July at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

The group charges are related to the 2023 murder of Hawks specialist investigator Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, additionally also facing charges relating to the kidnapping and disappearance of Ethiopian man and alleged ISIS leader Abdella Abadiga in December 2022.

South African Police Service (SAPS) Colonel Frans Mathipa was shot in the head while driving on the N1 in Hammanskraal off-ramp and killed by unknown assassins on Sunday, 6 August 2023, after he was assigned to investigate the Abadiga’s disappearance.

According to Hawks National Spokesperson Col Philani Nkwalase, Abadiga had based himself in SA as an asylum seeker but was arrested in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2017 after he and several other foreign nationals with refugee status in SA allegedly tried to travel to Goma, a city in the warzone east of the country. He also said that Abadiga and the others were allegedly attempting to link up with the Alliance for Democratic Change (ADF), a terrorist group that has supported IS and has carried also contributed in other attacks in Uganda.

Abadiga had once been arrested around Orange Farm in a roadblock, and following that his then lawyer Pearl Mthembu, claimed that he was arrested for issues related to his immigration status. She also revealed that her client had raised suspicions to her that the US government was behind roadblock. Abadiga was then released after two days after his refugee status in SA checked out.

The next day following Abadiga’s release, the US Embassy in SA issued a terror threat, warning of possible attack in Johannesburg Sandton area being planned by terrorists.

Moreover, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane told the media that the matter was postponed until Thursday for verification of some of the addresses that were presented by the accused on their bail applications.

“All accused are subjected to a judicial process, one that will become transparent so that all of society can have their questions answered,” Mjonondwana said.

She also said that this prosecution is part of a broader mandate to deal decisively with organised crime, while ensuring that culprits are brought to book.