Daniel Letsie Makhabe, 40, also known as Mokoena, was shot and killed at the Hashtag (#) Informal Settlement in Sonderwater, Ikageng near Potchefstroom on Wednesday (27/5). Makhabe was part of the South African Council of Churches and was also the founder of the Potch4Palestine movement.

Police responded to reports of a shooting incident and found spent cartridges and live ammunition scattered at the scene. A bystander informed police that two injured victims had already been rushed to a local hospital. 

Police immediately proceeded to the hospital, where medical personnel confirmed that the victims had been transported there in a private vehicle, said North West police spokesperson Sgt Kelebogile Morake.

Makhabe reportedly sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. “The second male victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and remains admitted to the hospital in a serious condition,” Morake added.

Police confirmed the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation and no arrests have been made.

The killing comes barely a week after another community activist, Thato Molosankwe, was murdered in Mahikeng, raising alarm across the province about the safety of activists and whistleblowers.

North West community safety and transport management MEC Wessels Morweng, urged residents to come forward with information that could assist police investigations.

“We are still mourning the loss of Thato, who was killed last week, and now we hear about Mokoena. There appears to be a deliberate intention to silence the voice of community activists.

“I’m appealing to community members to assist with any information they may have so that we can ensure the doers of this dastardly act are apprehended. We send our deepest sympathies to the Mokoena family, the South African Council of Churches and the community at large with which he was working so closely.”

Police have intensified efforts to track down suspects linked to Molosankwe’s murder, warning that releasing sensitive information too early could compromise ongoing investigations.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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