Trio sentenced to four life terms each for killing two Free State police officers

Three men have been sentenced to multiple life terms for the murders of two Free State police officers who were shot while responding to a house robbery in Phuthaditjhaba.

The Free State High Court sitting in Harrismith sentenced Lesotho national Pakiso Lethako, 34, Mpho Richard Mosia, 31, and Kabelo Anthony Matasane, 29, on Friday.

The trio were convicted for the murders of Constables Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung, who were both attached to the Namahadi Visible Policing unit.

They were also convicted of attempted murder, house robbery, robbery of a service pistol, theft of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and, in Lethako's case, contravening the Immigration Act.

The officers were killed on Saturday, 4 January 2025, while responding to a house robbery in Phuthaditjhaba.

According to the Hawks, the court sentenced each of the three men to two life sentences for murder and two life sentences for attempted murder.

They were each further sentenced to 15 years for house robbery and another 15 years for the robbery of a service pistol.

Lethako received additional sentences of 12 months for illegal possession of ammunition, 15 years for possession of a prohibited firearm, 18 months for contravening the Immigration Act and three years for theft of a firearm.

Mosia was further sentenced to six months for illegal possession of ammunition and 15 years for possession of a prohibited firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority and police investigation involved Crime Intelligence, the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Murder and Robbery Unit, Anti-Gang Unit and Tactical Response Team.

Free State police provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Solly Lesia and Hawks provincial head Major General Mokgadi Bokaba welcomed the sentences and commended the teams involved in the investigation.

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said the lengthy sentences reflected the seriousness of the crimes committed against the officers.