The eight men purportedly linked to the murder of three Free State police officers in separate occasions, are remanded in custody until their application for bail. The bail hearings are set for 26 February in the Magistrates’ Courts in Ficksburg and Phuthaditjhaba.
The suspects include Lesotho and South African nationals.
Those linked to the alleged murder of Ficksburg-based Const. Justice Sephooa are Ntisa Mothetho (34), Nthoba David Halahala (35), Molupe Meshack Sekati (36), and Mkhate Clovis Mpholo (36).
Pakiso Lethako (32), Kabelo Anmony Marasane (27), Thetha Piet Lakaje (53), and Mpho Richard Mosia (29) are linked to the murder of constables. Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung. Sephooa was attached to the Ficksburg Crime Intelligence unit, while Mohapi and Motloung were attached to the Namadi Visible Policing unit.
Three officers were killed in January. The suspects are facing charges of house robbery, two counts of murder, and two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit crime following the death of Motloung and Mohapi.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said probing revealed the four Lesotho nationals linked to the murder of Sephooa are in South Africa illegally. They face a charge of murder.
“They were located and arrested in Stilfontein, North West, then transferred to Bethlehem,” said Matoti.
