12 soldiers in court for murder of Hawks investigator 

At least 12 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been implicated in the murder of Hawks investigator Lieutenant-Colonel, Frans Mathipa.

While only two soldiers were arrested on Monday, the case took a dramatic turn when 10 other accused appeared before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

It is understood that the 10 handed themselves over to the Hawks on Monday morning.

The suspects covered their faces with masks in court, and the media was barred from recording proceedings due to a pending identity parade.

Mathipa, who specialised in crimes against the state, was gunned down on the N1 highway near Hammanskraal while on duty in 2023.

At the time of the hit, he was probing several high-profile cases, including the alleged abduction of an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader by SANDF members.

Hawks Lieutenant-Colonel, Christopher Singo, revealed that Mathipa was investigating some of the accused.

The suspects face several charges, including three counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, and fraud.

Police also seized a vehicle belonging to one of the accused after it was linked to the kidnapping of two male foreign nationals at a mall in Midrand in December 2022.

There are 13 accused in the matter, with the 13th being a company.

They are expected to return to court next week Tuesday for a formal bail application.

The state has expressed an intention to oppose bail.