FREE STATE – Three men have been handed four life sentences each for the murder of two Free State police officers, following a decisive ruling by the Free State High Court sitting in Harrismith. The August 2026 sentencing concludes a major criminal case stemming from the fatal shooting of Constable Sipho Mohapi and Constable Gedione Motloung, delivering long-awaited accountability for the targeted attack on law enforcement personnel.
The tragic incident unfolded on Saturday, 4 January 2025, in Phuthaditjhaba. Both victims, who were dedicated members of the Namahadi Visible Policing unit, were fatally shot while actively responding to a reported house robbery.
The convicted individuals are 34-year-old Lesotho national Pakiso Lethako, 31-year-old Mpho Richard Mosia, and 29-year-old Kabelo Anthony Matasane. On 28 August 2026, the court found them guilty on a comprehensive docket of serious charges, including two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, house robbery, robbery of a service pistol, theft of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and illegal immigration.
In delivering the judgment, the court imposed severe, concurrent penalties on all three defendants. Each man received two life sentences for the murders and an additional two life sentences for the attempted murders. Furthermore, the trio was handed 15-year prison terms for house robbery, alongside a further 15 years for the robbery of a service pistol.
The presiding judge also levied specific supplementary sentences based on individual culpability. Lethako received an additional 12 months’ imprisonment for illegal ammunition possession, 15 years for possessing a prohibited firearm, 18 months for violating the Immigration Act, and three years for firearm theft. Mosia was given a further six months’ imprisonment for illegal ammunition possession and 15 years for possessing a prohibited firearm.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Solly Lesia and Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, publicly welcomed the substantial sentences. The senior officials commended the exceptional, collaborative investigative efforts of Crime Intelligence, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, the Murder and Robbery Unit, the Anti-Gang Unit, and the Tactical Response Team. Their joint statement emphasized that the rigorous investigation and subsequent lengthy sentences reinforce the justice system’s commitment to protecting those who serve and safeguard the public.
