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Mareetseng police murders: Alleged cop killers remanded in custody
The four men and one minor that allegedly murdered two police officers were remanded in custody until 5 August when they will make a formal bail application.
Photo: Facebook
The five men accused of brutally murdering two South African Police Service (SAPS) members made a brief appearance before the Itsoseng Magistrate’s Court in North West on Friday, 30 July. The accused allegedly locked Constable Simon Ntsekeletsa and Sergeant Mojalefa Molete in the back of their service vehicle and set it alight.
ALLEGED POLICE KILLERS APPEAR IN COURT
According to SAPS spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, Benjamin Jacobs, 42, Jeremiah Mongale, 26, Rapulana Keikantse, 25 and Matthews Modukanele, 20, briefly appeared before the court on charges of murder, malicious damage to property and possession of a stolen firearm.
The fifth accused is a minor and appeared separately in the Children’s court, according to the police.
The five were arrested by the Hawks on 27 July, a day after the allegedly murder. The deceased officers reportedly spotted the accused in a vehicle loaded with suspected goats and were escorting them back to Mareetsane police station, according to the last communication SAPS had with the officers but they never made it.
“On 27 July 2021 the police were alerted by community members of blood stains on the road leading to the police station,” said Rikhotso.
“When the scene was visited, a knife and a police badge belonging to one of the deceased was found and a second badge was found near Mareetsane road. Further investigations led the team to a burnt state vehicle wherein the bodies of the deceased police officers were discovered.”
The suspects were found in possession of a 9mm pistol taken from the deceased police officers, which was confiscated along with a hammer, bloodstained clothing and a vehicle, as part of the investigation.
The accused were remanded in custody and the matter was postponed to 5 August for a formal bail application.
“We certainly hope that the families of our fallen police officers would find comfort in the arrest of suspects and look forward to successful prosecution of these criminal acts,” said Hawks boss Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya.
