SANDF Soldiers Arrested in Shocking Murder and Kidnapping Case

What started as an anonymous shooting on a Gauteng highway in 2023 has now exploded into one of the most shocking crime stories of 2025 – with two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the centre of it.

On Monday, 23 June, the two soldiers – aged 36 and 51 – are expected to appear at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of murder and kidnapping. Their arrests mark a chilling twist in the murder investigation of a high-profile Hawks officer and a previously unresolved abduction case involving foreign nationals.

The N1 Highway Murder That Shook the Hawks

It was a regular August morning when Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa – a seasoned investigator with the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State Unit – was gunned down in a targeted hit on the N1 near Hammanskraal.

He was on duty at the time, driving in the direction of Pretoria, when unknown suspects opened fire on his vehicle. After being fatally shot, his car swerved off the highway and landed in a ditch. The attack stunned the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – better known as the Hawks – and raised fears about coordinated attacks on law enforcement.

Nearly a year later, investigators have now arrested two suspects who are not outsiders to law enforcement – but enlisted members of the SANDF itself.

The Arrests: Airport, Centurion, and a Stolen Moment

According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo, the arrests were carried out on Sunday, 22 June. The younger soldier, 36, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport, while the older accused, 51, was taken into custody in Centurion, Pretoria.

The operation was spearheaded by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, in collaboration with Tactical Operations Management (TOMS). The careful orchestration behind the arrests suggests this investigation has been unfolding quietly behind the scenes for some time.

Image 1: Pexels

A Car, a Kidnapping, and a Second Crime Scene

The case took a further twist when police seized a vehicle belonging to the 36-year-old suspect. Forensics linked the car to a kidnapping in Midrand, dating back to 29 December 2022.

In that incident, two foreign nationals were abducted at a local mall. The vehicle – now impounded for further investigation – is believed to have been used in the commission of that crime.

It’s unclear whether the two suspects were acting alone or as part of a wider criminal network, but the case is now being handled at the highest levels of organised crime investigation.

Fallout and Questions from the Public

On social media, reactions to the arrests have ranged from disbelief to outrage. “How are military officers moonlighting as hitmen?” one user posted. Others have called for a full audit of SANDF personnel to root out criminal infiltration. The idea that armed service members may have participated in – or even orchestrated – the murder of a fellow officer has deeply unsettled South Africans.

This case has also reignited calls for more transparency within law enforcement and military ranks. With corruption scandals and violent crime already top of mind, many are now asking: Who’s policing the protectors?

What’s Next in Court

The court appearance on Monday is expected to be brief, as the investigation continues. However, prosecutors are reportedly preparing to oppose bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the suspects’ access to state resources.

Meanwhile, forensic teams are combing through both the seized vehicle and digital evidence to build a broader case – not just around Mathipa’s murder, but potentially a larger pattern of organised crimes involving military personnel.

Also read: Tempers Boil Over in Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial as Defence Refuses to Back Down

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Source: IOL

Featured Image: X (formerly known as Twitter)/@sa_crime