Picture: The deceased, Air Force Sergeant Michael Swanton
By STAFF REPORTER
3 February 2026- Two VIP protection officers, Thabang Eugene Sohole (41) and Michael Makampe (42), assigned to the Madibeng Local Municipality mayor, Douglas Maimane, briefly appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday. They are facing charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that on 28 January 2026 at approximately 8pm, the deceased and his wife, both members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), were travelling along Eskia Mphahlele Drive towards the R80 when they were flagged down by a dark BMW SUV fitted with flashing blue lights. Mahanjana said the couple then turned onto the R80 towards Mabopane, where they were allegedly forced to pull over on the side of the road.
“It is alleged that Sohole and Makampe exited the BMW, one of them armed with an R5 rifle and approached the couple’s vehicle. The deceased was seated in the passenger seat, while his wife was the driver. The two allegedly questioned the couple about a missing rear number plate before returning to their vehicle.
“The deceased then followed them to check their identification and establish whether they were police officials with lawful authority to stop and question them. As he approached the BMW, he was allegedly shot in the head and died at the scene,” she said.
Mahanjana further said a few hours later, the two accused handed themselves over at the Hercules Police Station, claiming that they were victims of an attempted hijacking and that a shooting had occurred on the R80. She added that the matter was postponed to 4 February 2026, for a formal bail application.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Police and Member of Parliament (MP), Lisa Schickerling said they strongly condemn the tragic killing of Air Force Sergeant Michael Swanton and extend their deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Schickerling said the killing occurred on the Mabopane main road within Madibeng Local Municipality, where an unmarked vehicle fitted with a single blue light allegedly stopped Sergeant Swanton before he was fatally shot.
“The bodyguards involved were attached to the mayor of Madibeng Local Municipality, Douglas Maimane, and reports indicate that the vehicle had no clear official markings, while armed bodyguards dressed in civilian clothing confronted him. This raises serious questions about conduct, identification procedures, and the rules governing VIP protection operations.
“This incident once again exposes the dangerous culture surrounding the so-called “blue light brigade”, where armed bodyguards operate with impunity, intimidate road users and place innocent lives at risk. No public official or their security detail is above the law,” she said.
Schickerling further said this culture of impunity is not isolated. She added that South Africans will recall how members of a blue light convoy attached to the Deputy President were filmed assaulting a civilian motorist on a public highway, illustrating a broader pattern of abuse, lawlessness, and disregard for human life among certain VIP protection units.
“It is deeply concerning that an unmarked vehicle with limited identification was used in an operation that ended in the loss of an innocent life. This points to a serious failure in protocols, oversight and accountability within VIP protection services.
“The DA calls for a swift, transparent investigation and for those responsible to face the full consequences of the law. We further demand an urgent review of VIP protection policies to prevent the continued abuse of power and to ensure that public safety, not political privilege, remains the priority,” said Schickerling.
She said South Africans deserve leadership that respects the rule of law, not armed convoys that behave like untouchable elites.
The Guardian 