TWO cops and a friend appear in court.
Sergeant Piet Matsoso (38) and Sergeant Siyabonga Kunene (31) stood alongside their friend, 36-year-old Hofney Morobe in the Sebokeng Magistrates Court, Vaal on Wednesday, 2 July.
They are accused of the fatal shooting of Constable Gift Mokoena.
The trio faces charges of murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating the ends of justice and handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on the night of 16 May 2021.
The two off-duty officers were allegedly driving around Golden Gardens with Morobe when they spotted a car believed to have been involved in a house robbery.
They pursued the vehicle, which later stopped at a petrol station. There, the suspects allegedly confronted and assaulted the four male occupants of the car, taking a cellphone and car keys from one of the victims.
The accused then allegedly drove the victims around before handing them over to members of the community policing forum (CPF).
At that point, Morobe and Mokoena, who had joined the CPF group, allegedly participated in further assaulting the victims.
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In a shocking turn of events, Morobe is said to have walked away during the chaos, retrieved Matsoso's service firearm from a vehicle and fatally shot Mokoena.
The constable was rushed to Nkanyezi Private Hospital in Sebokeng, but later died from his injuries. The three accused handed themselves over to Sebokeng Police Station on 30 June.
During the bail hearing, the state did not oppose bail. An affidavit submitted by investigating officer, Warrant Officer Nyongwana, noted that the accused co-operated with the police, voluntarily surrendered and had verifiable addresses.
The affidavit also confirmed that the investigation was complete and that none of the state's witnesses were known to the accused.
The court granted each of the accused R1 000 bail with no additional conditions.
The matter was postponed to 4 September for a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokeswoman Lumka Mahanjana confirmed the seriousness of the case and emphasised that accountability remains a top priority.
"This matter is deeply concerning, especially as it involves law enforcement officials who are meant to uphold the law. We are confident in the strength of the investigation and will follow due process to ensure justice is served," said Mahanjana.
