councillor ANC Piet Moletsane

The police arrested a former ward councillor in connection with Piet Moletsane’s murder. Photo: Twitter,

Ex-ward councillor, two hitmen arrested for alleged murder of ANC member

The police said Piet Moletsane was in the running to be elected as a ward councillor at the time of his murder.

councillor ANC Piet Moletsane

The police arrested a former ward councillor in connection with Piet Moletsane’s murder. Photo: Twitter,

The police in the Free State made a breakthrough in a 2021 murder case. A former ward councillor and two suspected hitmen were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of Piet Moletsane in Meloding.

POLICE MAKE BREAKTHROUGH IN MOLETSANE MURDER

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said Moletsane was politically active and was in the running to be elected as a ward councillor at the time of his death.

The deceased was shot and killed on 23 September 2021 as he was leaving the tavern he worked at.

The Provincial Organised Crime Unit was handed the murder case. The unit tracked down two suspects – aged 31 and 34 – on 28 January 2022.

“Further investigation revealed that the two accused were allegedly hired as hitmen,” said Motantsi.

The investigation continued and eventually, a 44-year-old man who was the ward councillor at the time of Moletsane’s murder was also arrested.

The police believe the former ward councillor is the mastermind behind the alleged murder. He is expected to appear before the Virginia Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 4 May.

The alleged hitmen remain in custody.

In an unrelated incident, two ANC members – Ward 43 councillor, Andile Andries, and Branch Secretary, Lubabalo Keso – were shot and killed in the Eastern Cape on Monday.

READ: ANC councillor and branch secretary gunned down in Eastern Cape