Free State police commissioner Lieutenant General Solly Lesia and provincial Hawks head Major General Mokgadi Bokaba praised officers after three men were handed lengthy jail terms yesterday (August 28) for killing two Namahadi constables.

Parys Gazette reports that Pakiso Lethako (34), a Lesotho national, Mpho Richard Mosia (31) and Kabelo Anthony Matasane (29) were convicted in the Free State High Court sitting in Harrismith for their involvement in the fatal shooting of Constables Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung. They were also convicted of attempted murder, robbery of a service pistol, house robbery, theft of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

The constables were fatally shot on January 4, 2025 while responding to a house robbery in Phuthaditjhaba, Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said.

Multiple life terms handed down

The court sentenced Lethako, Mosia and Matasane each to two life sentences for murder, two life sentences for attempted murder, 15 years’ imprisonment for house robbery and a further 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery of a service pistol.

Lethako was further sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition, 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a prohibited firearm, 18 months’ imprisonment for contravening the Immigration Act and three years’ imprisonment for theft of a firearm.

Mosia was also sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition and 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a prohibited firearm.

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