Evidence indicates that members of South Africa's special forces may have murdered a top detective investigating the disappearance and suspected killings of two individuals, according to reports.
Detective Frans Mathipa was assigned to the case a month after the initial incidents. He reportedly issued a subpoena for special forces to provide details of an alleged training exercise and personnel involved. Three months later, as access to these documents was being arranged, Mathipa expressed a premonition of his own death to his commanding officer, Brig Paulina Sekgobela.
On the day Mathipa was killed, he received a call from an individual identifying himself as Tebogo, who claimed to have information related to the case. Mathipa's daughter, Basetsana, stated that her father agreed to meet Tebogo at a Pretoria petrol station. When Tebogo did not appear, Mathipa drove away and was subsequently killed by high-velocity weapon fire while driving. Police indicated that the weapons used are of a type accessible to special forces.
Footage from toll gantries showed that a black BMW, which trailed Mathipa shortly before his murder, was registered to PCT. This same company is reportedly linked to three vehicles connected to the disappearance of individuals identified as Abadigga and Abotese. The prosecution case against eight accused men includes evidence that Maj Sunnybooi Wambi was an occupant of the black BMW.
Following Mathipa's death, new detectives were assigned to the case. A warning message, allegedly from special forces, was reportedly sent to the police's Criminal Intelligence division, stating that all investigating officers assigned to the case would be killed.
Twelve members of the South African military have been arrested in connection with the case. Among those arrested are Lt Col Sunnybooi Wambi and the current head of South Africa's special forces, Brig Gen Solomon Lechoenyo, both of whom have been promoted since the police investigation began. The arrested individuals face charges including abduction and murder of Abadigga and Abotese, murder of Mathipa, fraud, and obstruction of justice. All have denied the charges. Initially released on bail, six of the accused later had their bail revoked and were ordered to surrender to custody. Three of these six, including Wambi, have been charged with both Mathipa's murder and the abduction and murder of Abotese.