12 SANDF Members Accused of Hawks Investigator’s Murder Granted Bail at Randburg Magistrate Court

(The Post News)- The Randburg Magistrate Court has granted bail to 12 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members who are accused of the murder of Hawks investigator, Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa. Bail is set at R10,000 for each of them. The 12 SANDF members appeared in court this morning.

Mathipa, who was part of the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State section within the Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Gauteng, was gunned down on 6 August 2023 while travelling on the N1 near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. He was reportedly on duty at the time of the shooting.

Amongst other things, Matipha was investigating the disappearance of Isis (a terrorist group originally inspired by Al-Qaeda) financier Abdella Abadiga from the Mall of Africa in Midrand. According to Sowetan Live, two days before he was assassinated, he had met with the state prosecutor and SANDF personnel where he requested classified documents detailing why special forces were deployed at the mall when Abadiga went missing.

Last week, the court denied the bail for the 12 SANDF members, noting the charges they are faced with. The court emphasised that they might be a threat to witnesses, considering that they are trained military personnel.

Nonetheless, Hawks investigator’s affidavit, read in court, revealed he had received threats. In response, the defence argued that the accused, mostly family breadwinners, would cause undue hardship to their dependents if denied bail. They emphasized the accused’s roles as SANDF officials, committed to serving South Africa, and assured the court that they would not abscond trial.

They are facing murder, kidnapping and fraud charges in the Randburg magistrate’s court.

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Sibahle Dayimani

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