Former Matjhabeng ANC councillor in court for murder of ward candidate

Crime/ 04 May 2022, 16:35pm/ FSI Reporter

Former ANC councillor in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality Sephiri Jan Liphoko: image supplied

Virginia – Former councillor in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State appeared in court for allegedly ordering a hit on a councillor candidate.

According to Free State police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, Sephiri Jan Liphoko, 44, appeared in the Virginia Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, and the case against him was postponed until May 14 for the bail application.

Liphoko is alleged to have ordered a hit on ward councillor candidate, Piet Moletsane.

Police said Moletsane, 31, was about to close a liquor business premises in Meloding, Virginia, when he was shot dead on September 23 last year.

Moletsane was set to contest one of the wards in the November 1 local government elections.

Captain Thakeng said a case of murder was registered and assigned to two detective sergeants, Kabelo Molebatsi and Thabang Mokone from Free State organised crime unit.

“A thorough investigation was conducted and leads were followed up which led to two arrests.

Police arrested two suspects on January 28 this year. The two men, aged  32 and 34, are believed to have been hired as hitmen. They have appeared a number of times and their case was postponed until May 13. They remain in custody. 

The third suspect, who is a former councillor of Matjhabeng municipality, was arrested recently and appeared today, May 4 2022, in the Virginia magistrate’s court.

The suspects appeared several times in the Virginia Magistrate’s Court and their case was postponed to May 13.”

The two men were allegedly hired as hitmen to kill Moletsane.

Liphoko is linked to the case as the alleged mastermind.

It is not the first time Liphoko appears in court, in April last year he appeared in the Virginia Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly stabbing his wife multiple times with a kitchen knife.

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