MAN RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE FOR KILLING POLICE OFFICER

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 By: Neo Ntsele

On 24 April 2026, the Free State High Court in Welkom sentenced 55-year-old Mozambican national, Frimino David Matola, following his conviction on 23 April 2026 for multiple offences.

These offences include the murder of a police officer, two counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of an automatic firearm and ammunition, and breaches of immigration laws.

The charges relate to the fatal shooting of Sergeant Disema Steven Mapane on 6 December 2022 in Thabong, Welkom.

At the time, the deceased was part of a multidisciplinary team that included members of the Sasolburg Public Order Policing (POP), Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team (TRT), and Welkom Detectives.

The team was acting on intelligence regarding an armed robbery at a petrol station in Welkom on 24 November 2022, in which Matola was a suspect.

This information led the officers to Matola’s residence, where a shootout ensued between him and the police.

He was later arrested on 21 September 2023 in connection with the murder of a police officer.

Matola is currently incarcerated at the Polokwane Correctional Facility for a separate cash-in-transit heist that took place in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.

 The court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the murder of a police officer, along with two additional life sentences for the attempted murders of two police officers.

He also received a fifteen-year sentence for illegal possession of an automatic firearm (AK-47), twelve months for possession of unlicensed ammunition, and another twelve months for immigration law violations.

Additionally, he was declared unfit to own a firearm.

The Acting Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in the Free State, Brigadier Paulus Mbongo, expressed approval of the verdict and praised the investigating officer for their thorough work.

He also commended the National Prosecuting Authority for ensuring justice was achieved for the crimes committed.