Twelve South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members accused of a string of serious crimes had their bail application delayed on Tuesday. The Randburg Magistrates’ Court postponed the hearing to Thursday to allow authorities time to verify the soldiers’ residential addresses.
The group faces a range of charges, including three counts of murder, kidnapping, fraud, obstruction of justice, perjury, and the theft of a vehicle. These charges are linked to the disappearance of Ethiopian businessman Abdella Hussain Abadiga and his bodyguard, Kadir Jemal Abotese, who were last seen at Mall of Africa in December 2022.
It’s alleged that the two men were abducted from the mall and taken to the Zwartkop Military Base. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
The soldiers are also implicated in the killing of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, a Hawks investigator who had been probing the abduction. He was gunned down on the N1 highway in August 2023, reportedly by individuals in a SANDF vehicle. His car veered off the road following the shooting and landed in a ditch.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the accused submitted affidavits denying any involvement in the crimes. Their commanding officer also provided a statement in support of their release on bail.
Prosecutors have emphasized the seriousness of the case, pointing to the severity of the charges and the potential risk to justice.
The accused were arrested at various locations in June, including OR Tambo International Airport and Centurion. Investigators believe the murder of Mathipa was directly linked to the kidnapping case he was working on at the time of his death.