By BAKANG MOKOTO
27 March 2025- A man (38) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court sitting in Upington for killing a police officer in Keimoes. The atrocity occurred in January 2020.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said a police officer, who was attached to Upington Public Order Policing (POP) and his friend, were attacked by the accused, Chidi Emmanuel Okafor while sleeping.
Thebe said the deceased lost his life as a result of being stabbed, while his friend got away with serious injuries from the incident.
“Okafor was charged with housebreaking with intent to commit murder, attempted murder and murder. The accused disappeared after the brutal crime.
“However, Upington Hawks Serious Organised Crime members were tasked with the tracing and investigation of the matter. Okafor was traced to Klerksdorp, where he was arrested and brought back for a lengthy trial,” he said.
Thebe said Okafor was convicted in August 2024, and sentenced in 18 March 2025, with a final verdict of life imprisonment on the main charge and 10 years imprisonment on the charge of attempted murder. He said the sentence will run concurrently.
The Guardian 