South African authorities have charged seven members of the country’s special forces and a military police officer over the alleged murder of senior detective Lt Col Frans Mathipa, who was investigating a sensitive case involving military personnel.
Mathipa, a respected detective with the elite Hawks police unit and father of five, was shot dead in August 2023 while driving home on a motorway outside Pretoria. His death came just two days after he was reportedly told that crucial information he had been seeking for months would be made available to him.
The suspects deny the allegations. No trial date has yet been set, while concerns have emerged over whether the case will proceed after three of the accused allegedly failed to comply with a court order revoking their bail. The three reportedly remain members of the special forces, with one having since been promoted.
Documents obtained by the BBC reportedly form part of the prosecution’s case and contain evidence suggesting that members of the special forces were involved in Mathipa’s killing. Police documents indicate that a vehicle seen following Mathipa shortly before his death was registered to Peters Communications Trust (PCT), a company allegedly linked to the special forces. Tracking information from the vehicle reportedly placed it at the scene of the shooting.
One of the men allegedly connected to the vehicle, Maj Sunnybooi Wambi, had also reportedly been identified at the scene of an earlier alleged abduction that Mathipa was investigating. Police documents further allege that a warning was later issued to the Hawks, saying investigators would be killed regardless of how many officers were assigned to the case.
Investigation into alleged abduction
Mathipa’s investigation centred on Ethiopian national Abdella Abadigga, who had previously been designated by the United States as an Islamic State recruiter and fundraiser.
According to the investigation, Abadigga had been brought back to South Africa after previously being arrested abroad. Sources told the BBC that he was allegedly used as an intelligence asset before later becoming involved in criminal activities. Mathipa was investigating allegations that special forces personnel had abducted and killed Abadigga in December 2022.
Abadigga’s brother, Ameen, had earlier opened a missing-person investigation. CCTV footage obtained from the Mall of Africa reportedly showed Abadigga and his bodyguard before they disappeared, as well as vehicles allegedly used by their suspected abductors. Police documents said those vehicles were registered to PCT, which allegedly served as a front company for the special forces.
The military acknowledged that its personnel and vehicles were at the shopping centre on the day of Abadigga’s disappearance, but said they were there as part of a training exercise. Authorities have not publicly established whether that explanation accounted for the events surrounding Abadigga’s disappearance.
Mathipa feared for his life
After taking over the investigation, Mathipa reportedly issued a subpoena seeking detailed information about the alleged military exercise and the personnel involved.
His commanding officer, Brig Paulina Sekgobela, told the BBC that Mathipa had expressed fears for his safety after being told the requested documents would be provided.
Two days later, Mathipa was killed.
Police say he had arranged to meet a man who claimed to have information about the investigation. When the man failed to appear at the agreed meeting point, Mathipa drove away and was later shot while travelling along the highway.
Investigators reportedly identified Maj Wambi as one of the occupants of a vehicle that followed Mathipa shortly before his death. The vehicle was also allegedly registered to PCT.
Twelve military personnel charged
Police have arrested 12 members of the South African military in connection with various allegations involving Abadigga, his bodyguard and Mathipa. The charges include abduction, murder, fraud and obstruction.
Among those accused are Wambi and Brig Gen Solomon Lechoenyo, who later became head of South Africa’s special forces. Both men have denied the allegations, as have the other accused.
Six of the suspects subsequently had their bail revoked and were ordered to surrender to authorities. However, the military has reportedly not handed them over, while their lawyers have cited mental health treatment as a reason for their absence.
Abadigga’s body has never been found, while no trial date has been announced for Mathipa’s murder.
Mathipa’s daughter, Basetsana, has called for justice for her father, saying he was killed while carrying out his duties as a police officer.
