The suspects, who have now increased to five, are expected to appear in the Bothaville Regional Court on 10 November 2022. The trial is set to start on 28 November 2022 in the same court.

According to police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, five people who claimed to be from the Hawks approached a professional nurse and his wife on 11 February 2022, and extorted R32 000 from them. 

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Thakeng explains further that one of the suspects, Thokoa Kingsley Mafere (44), was on parole for armed robbery when he was re-arrested in Welkom following a shootout with police. 

"A 54-year-old woman was also arrested with other suspects," said Thakeng.

He added that the fifth suspect, a 69-year-old man with a case in Kroonstad, was given bail of R2500 after being caught alongside the others and found with two weapons and police handcuffs.

"The five suspects, including two former police sergeants, posed as the Hawks and thus they were arrested after a thorough investigation conducted by Provincial Organised Crime Detective Sergeant Kabelo Molebatsi," Thakeng said.

OFM News