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Court gavel.
Two VIP Protection Officers assigned to the Madibeng Local Municipality Mayor have been granted bail of R20 000 each in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.
Thabang Eugene Sohole and Michael Makampe allegedly shot and killed a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) after forcing him to pull over on the R80 towards Mabopane last month.
They are facing charges of murder, defeating the ends of justice, and operating a vehicle fitted with blue identification lamps on an unauthorised vehicle on a public road.
The two reportedly questioned the deceased about his missing rear number plate.
It is alleged that the deceased then followed the accused to verify their identification and establish whether they were police officials, and he was then shot in the head.
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says the matter has been postponed to April.
“In court, the state prosecutor Chris Maruma opposed their release on bail because the two might try to influence the state witnesses and might interfere with investigations. However, Magistrate Mphahlele found that exceptional circumstances existed, warranting the accused person’s release on bail. Furthermore, he ordered that the two should not directly or indirectly contact the state witnesses. The matter was postponed to 09 April 2026 for further investigations.”
