The Free State High Court in Harrismith has sentenced three men to multiple life terms following their convictions for the fatal shooting of two police constables during a house robbery in Phuthaditjhaba.
Convictions and sentences
The court on 28 August 2025 convicted Pakiso Lethako (34), Mpho Richard Mosia (31) and Kabelo Anthony Matasane (29) for the murder of Constables Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung, along with a string of related offences, the Parys Gazette reported.
Each of the three men received the following principal penalties:
- Two life sentences for murder
- Two life sentences for attempted murder
- 15 years for house robbery
- 15 years for robbery of a service pistol
The court also imposed additional sentences for weapons and immigration offences. Lethako received further terms including 15 years for possession of a prohibited firearm and 18 months for contravening the Immigration Act. Mosia was handed 15 years for possession of a prohibited firearm and a six-month term for illegal possession of ammunition.
How the killings unfolded
According to the police account cited in court, the two constables were shot while responding to a house robbery on 4 January 2025. Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti provided the timeline to police investigators.
“The constables were fatally shot on January 4, 2025 while responding to a house robbery in Phuthaditjhaba,”
The fatal incident prompted a joint investigation involving the provincial SAPS and the Hawks, as well as an intensified operational response in the area.
Reaction from police leadership
Provincial SAPS leadership commended investigators and prosecutors after the verdict. Free State police commissioner Lieutenant General Solly Lesia and the provincial Hawks head Major General Mokgadi Bokaba praised the work that led to the arrests and convictions, saying the sentences reflected the seriousness of attacks on law enforcement officers.
Charges beyond murder
Alongside murder and attempted murder, the accused were convicted on multiple counts including:
- Robbery of a service pistol
- House robbery
- Theft and illegal possession of firearms
- Illegal possession of ammunition
- Contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002
The variety of convictions illustrates how the case combined violent crime, weapons offences and immigration violations—factors that influenced the cumulative sentencing profile.
Sentence breakdown
| Offence | Typical sentence given |
|---|---|
| Murder | Two life sentences (each defendant) |
| Attempted murder | Two life sentences (each defendant) |
| House robbery | 15 years (each defendant) |
| Robbery of service pistol | 15 years (each defendant) |
Local impact and context
The killings in Phuthaditjhaba and the subsequent convictions have resonated across communities in the eastern Free State. Attacks on duty officers are closely watched by residents and policing authorities, who argue such convictions are necessary to deter violence against law enforcement.
Neighbours and community leaders in Namahadi and surrounding areas have repeatedly called for improved safety measures and faster police response times. The court outcome is likely to be viewed locally as a measure of accountability, though it does not address wider concerns about crime patterns in the region.
What happens next
With the High Court sentences handed down, any appeal processes would proceed through the usual legal channels. The convictions and long custodial terms will remain on record while the criminal justice system allows for challenges in superior courts, if lodged.
For residents seeking information about court dates or the status of appeals, court registries at the Free State High Court in Harrismith can provide official listings and directions on how to follow up on cases.
Reporting for the Free State, this account is based on court and police statements as reported by the Parys Gazette and statements attributed to provincial SAPS and Hawks leadership.
