BLOEMFONTEIN – A Mozambican national has been sentenced to multiple life terms for the murder of a Free State police officer and related crimes, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said on Friday 24 April.
Frimino David Matola (55) was sentenced by the Free State High Court sitting in Welkom, after being convicted on charges including murder, two counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of an automatic firearm and ammunition, and contravention of immigration laws, on Thursday 23 April.
The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Sergeant Disema Steven Mapane on 6 December 2022 in Thabong, Welkom.
At the time, Mapane was part of a multi-disciplinary team comprising members of the Sasolburg Public Order Policing unit, Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team and Welkom police detectives.
Multiple violations
The team was acting on intelligence related to an armed robbery at a petrol station in Welkom on 24 November 2022, for which Matola was a suspect. Information led police officers to his residence, where a shootout between him and the police occurred.
He was arrested in connection with the murder on 21 September 2023.
Matola is currently serving time at Polokwane Correctional Facility for an unrelated cash-in-transit heist that occurred in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.
This week, the court imposed a life sentence for the murder of the police officer, along with two additional life sentences for the attempted murders of two police officers.
He was further sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for the illegal possession of an automatic firearm (AK-47), 12 months for possession of unlicensed ammunition, and 12 months for violating immigration laws.
Matola was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Brigadier Paulus Mbongo, acting head of the Hawks in the Free State, welcomed the outcome and praised the investigating officer for diligent work. He also commended the National Prosecuting Authority for ensuring justice is served.
