By Teboho Moloi
WELKOM – A 55-year old Mozambican national has been handed three life sentences for the murder and attempted murder of police officers, in a case that underscores the deadly risks faced by law enforcement.
Frimino David Matola was sentenced by the Free State High Court sitting in Welkom on Friday, 24 April, after being found guilty on multiple charges, including the killing of Sergeant Disema Steven Mapane.
Mapane was fatally shot on 6 December 2022 in Thabong, Welkom, during a police operation targeting suspects linked to an armed robbery at a local petrol station weeks earlier.
A multidisciplinary team comprising members of the Sasolburg Public Order Policing unit, Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team and Welkom detectives had traced Matola to his residence.
A shootout erupted when officers moved in, leaving Mapane dead and two other officers narrowly surviving.
Matola was arrested in 2023 following investigations by the Hawks.
The court imposed a life sentence for the murder of Mapane and two additional life terms for the attempted murders of the officers wounded in the gun battle.
He was further sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for illegal possession of an automatic firearm (AK-47), 12 months for possession of unlicensed ammunition, and another 12 months for contravening immigration laws.
He has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Free State Hawks acting provincial head, Brigadier Paulus Mbongo, welcomed the sentence, describing it as a strong message against violent attacks on police.
Matola is already serving time at Polokwane Correctional Facility for a separate cash-in-transit heist in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.
