11-07-2025
12 SANDF soldiers accused of murdering Hawks investigator granted bail
Twelve SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Special Forces members accused of three murders, including that of Hawks investigator Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, were granted R10 000 bail each in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Friday.
The soldiers, who cannot be named because an identity parade is yet to be conducted are accused of the murder of Mathipa on the N1 near the Hammanskraal off-ramp on 6 August 2023.
They have also been charged with the kidnapping of alleged ISIS leader in South Africa, Abdela Abadiga, and his bodyguard, Kadir Abotese, from the Mall of Africa on 22 December 2022.
Abadiga and Abotese have not been found and have been presumed dead.