Two VIP protection officers assigned to the Madibeng Local Municipality mayor appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice following a fatal shooting on the R80 Mabopane Highway in Pretoria.

The accused, Thabang Eugene Sohole (41) and Michael Makampe (42), are alleged to have been involved in the fatal shooting of Michael Swanton (36), a SANDF member last week Wednesday.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Swanton (36) and his wife, who are both SANDF members, were travelling along Eskia Mphahlele Drive towards the R80 at about 20:00 when they were flagged down by a dark BMW SUV fitted with flashing blue lights.

The couple allegedly believed they were being stopped by law enforcement officials and subsequently turned onto the R80 towards Mabopane.

NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says it is alleged that the BMW forced the couple to pull over on the side of the road.

Mahanjana adds that Sohole and Makampe reportedly exited the vehicle, with one of them armed with an R5 rifle, and approached the couple’s car.

The deceased was seated in the passenger seat while his wife was driving. The two officers questioned the couple about a missing rear number plate before returning to their vehicle.

“The deceased then followed the BMW in order to check their identification and establish whether they were police officials with lawful authority to stop and question them,” says Mahanjana.

She adds as the deceased approached the BMW, he was shot in the head and died at the scene.

“A few hours after the incident, the two accused handed themselves over at the Hercules Police Station, claiming they were victims of an attempted hijacking and that a shooting had occurred on the R80,” says Mahanjana.

The NPA has since charged the two VIP protection officers with murder and defeating the ends of justice, citing discrepancies between their version of events and the evidence gathered during the investigation.

Mahanjana said the matter was postponed to Wednesday to allow the state to prepare for a formal bail application.

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