Samuel Marothodi Maphanga, Ndoda Mathibefazi and Jonathan Seloane briefly appeared in court and the case against them was postponed to September 26, to enable Maphanga to apply to be represented by the Legal Aid, after his legal representative withdrew from the case.

The State alleges that three shot and wounded Warrant Officer Sipho Sithole, 48, in Letlhabile near Brits in November last year, before they hijacked his car.

Sithole who was attached to the Assen police station, was in his car when he was approached by the three men. They allegedly shot him in the chest and fled in his car. He was rushed to hospital where he later died.

His car was found in Soshanguve north of Pretoria.

Warrant Officer Victor Ramorwesi from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), arrested Maphanga on November 25, last year. The Hawks went to his parents’ home in Soshanguve north of Pretoria, and his father, Steve Maphanga made an arrangement with the police that he would inform them when his son was at home. At the time, Maphanga was at work.

Ramorwesi arrested Mathibefazi on January 31 in Soshanguve and Seloane was arrested on February 4, in Makapanstad.

The three were denied bail and were in custody until their court appearance in September.

ANA