ActionSA Free State chairperson, Patricia Kopane, said the death of the senior investigator in the case of Thabo Bester under what they term as mysterious circumstances, raises suspicions. She said his death should be investigated by the police minister, Bheki Cele, together with the police commissioner, Lieutenant General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola. Kopane said the death of the investigator, previously described as a highly skilled officer, cannot be taken lightly and needs to be treated with the urgency it deserves. The officer allegedly shot and killed himself in Bloemfontein on Monday 5 June, moments after attending Nandipha Magudumana’s High Court case.

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“This matter must be investigated so that South Africans can satisfy themselves that there was no foul play afoot, appreciating the Hollywood-type twists and turns this saga has already taken,” Kopane said. She continued that, if foul play is detected, the state has a duty to ensure that other investigators and witnesses do not fall prey to the same fate as this officer.

“With every waking day, criminals seem to be conducting their criminal affairs without remorse, or frustrate the cases being built against them for which they must answer in due course. ActionSA would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the officer,” Kopane added.

National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, told OFM News circumstances surrounding the senior officer’s death, who was the provincial head responsible for organised crime in the Free State, is now the subject of a police investigation.

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Mathe said the police service’s employee health and wellness experts, including chaplains and psychologists, have been dispatched to provide psycho-social services to the family and colleagues of the deceased member

“The national commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, sadly confirms the death of one of the investigators of the Thabo Bester escape matter. The identity of the deceased member will be released once all his family members have been notified,” Mathe added.

OFM News