HARRISMITH – A trio of men has been sentenced to four life terms each for the murder of two Free State police officers, concluding a major criminal case in the Free State High Court. On 28 August 2026, the court handed down lengthy, concurrent sentences to Pakiso Lethako, Mpho Richard Mosia, and Kabelo Anthony Matasane […]
HARRISMITH – A trio of men has been sentenced to four life terms each for the murder of two Free State police officers, concluding a major criminal case in the Free State High Court. On 28 August 2026, the court handed down lengthy, concurrent sentences to Pakiso Lethako, Mpho Richard Mosia, and Kabelo Anthony Matasane for their direct involvement in the fatal shooting of Constable Sipho Mohapi and Constable Gedione Motloung.
The fatal incident occurred on 4 January 2025 in Phuthaditjhaba. The two victims, who were attached to the Namahadi Visible Policing unit, were shot and killed while actively responding to a house robbery.
The High Court found the three accused guilty on a comprehensive list of 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 sentenced Lethako, Mosia, and Matasane each to two life sentences for murder and two life sentences for attempted murder. Furthermore, all three men received 15-year prison terms for house robbery and an additional 15 years for the robbery of a service pistol.
Beyond these core sentences, the court imposed additional penalties on specific individuals based on their distinct charges. Lethako, a 34-year-old Lesotho national, was sentenced to an additional 12 months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition, 15 years for possession of a prohibited firearm, 18 months for contravening the Immigration Act, and three years for the theft of a firearm. Mosia, 31, received a further six months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition and 15 years for possession of a prohibited firearm. Matasane, 29, was subject to the primary concurrent life and 15-year terms.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Solly Lesia and Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Mokgadi Bokaba formally welcomed the substantial sentences. Both officials commended the sterling, collaborative work of Crime Intelligence, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, the Murder and Robbery Unit, the Anti-Gang Unit, and the Tactical Response Team. Their statements emphasized that the decisive judicial outcome reinforces accountability and serves as a strong deterrent against violence targeting law enforcement personnel.
