In a Stunning Turn of Events, Two SANDF Officials Arrested for High-Profile Murder and Kidnapping
In a development that has shocked the nation, two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), aged 36 and 51, have been arrested in connection with a chilling double crime— the murder of a senior Hawks officer and a separate kidnapping case involving foreign nationals.
The arrests were made on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at OR Tambo International Airport and in Centurion, following an extensive investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section. These arrests have raised alarm and suspicion, given the suspects’ military background and the gravity of the crimes they are accused of.
The murder charge stems from the August 2023 killing of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, a senior member of the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit. Mathipa, a dedicated law enforcement officer, was tragically shot dead while on duty near Hammanskraal on the N1. After being shot, his vehicle veered off the road and crashed. This cold-blooded attack stunned the country, particularly as Mathipa was a key figure in tackling organized crime and state corruption.
In a further twist, the two SANDF officials are also implicated in the 2022 kidnapping of two foreign nationals at a Midrand mall. Authorities have seized a vehicle, reportedly owned by the 36-year-old suspect, which is believed to have been used in the kidnapping. The vehicle is now undergoing a forensic analysis in a bid to gather more evidence that could link the suspects to the abduction.
Both men are expected to appear before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court soon, as investigators piece together the full extent of their involvement in these high-profile cases. The arrest of these military personnel has sent shockwaves through the country, raising urgent questions about internal corruption and the involvement of security forces in criminal activities.
As the case unfolds, many will be watching closely to see what further revelations emerge and whether the full scale of the crime network behind these incidents will be exposed. This arrest marks a critical moment in the fight against organized crime within South Africa’s law enforcement and military institutions.
