Four suspects aged between 34 and 36 were arrested on 01 February 2025 in connection with the killing of a Free State police officer, Constable Justice Sephooa who was attached to Ficksburg Crime Intelligence Unit.
The four Lesotho nationals who are in South Africa illegally were arrested by Free State multidisciplinary team led by Hawks’ Serious Organized Crime Investigation together with the North West Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the National Intervention Unit (NIU), after an intense investigation was launched to trace the suspects. They were located and arrested in Stilfontein, North West, then transferred to Bethlehem.
On 21 January 2025, two unknown African males arrived at the police officer’s place of residence, where one of them shot at the officer two times then both fled the scene.
All four suspects will be appearing in the Ficksburg Magistrates’ Court on 04 February 2025 facing charges of murder.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt General (Dr/ Adv) SG Lebeya appreciated the collective effort and the professional approach applied by the team on ensuring the perpetrators are brought forward to face the arm of the law.