By BAKANG MOKOTO
24 June 2026 – A man, Rassie Hlabirwa Nkune (37) from Mpumalanga and former police official Jacob Mothibe Chego (41), previously employed at the White River Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU), were convicted on two counts of premeditated murder of a couple, Lucky and Sabeliwe Zwane Mogashoa, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, four counts of kidnapping, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice by the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria. In addition, Nkune was convicted of two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said on 16 March 2022, Mogashoa received a call from Chego informing him that his vehicle, which had been reported stolen in 2018, had allegedly been recovered and was being held at the White River police vehicle impound. Mahanjana said the following day, Nkune, posing as a police officer, contacted Mogashoa and informed him that he would visit his residence in Roodepoort to collect documentation related to the recovered vehicle.
“Upon arrival, Nkune was given the documents and arrangements were made for a meeting on 19 March 2022, to collect the vehicle from the impound. On that day, Mogashoa, his wife and their two minor children, aged one and eight, travelled to Benoni, where they picked up Nkune at a petrol station.
“While en route to the White River vehicle impound, Nkune instructed Mogashoa at gunpoint to stop the vehicle in an open veld in Etwatwa. He then ordered the couple to get out of the vehicle, leaving their two young children inside. Nkune forced the couple into the veld, where he shot both in the head while the children remained in the car,” she said.
Mahanjana further said after committing the murders, Nkune returned to the vehicle, drove with the children to another nearby area, abandoned them in the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. She added that the eight-year-old child then took the younger sibling and walked in search of help.
“While walking along the N12 highway, they were assisted by a woman who took them to a nearby police station, where the incident was reported. Following investigations, Nkune was arrested while already in custody, serving a life sentence for the murder of two women in a separate case.
“On 16 April 2024, Chego and his co-accused, Elvis Press Makhubela (now deceased), handed themselves over to the police at the Springs Police Station. They were arrested and subsequently released on bail. In court, both Nkune and Chego pleaded not guilty and denied committing the offences,” said Mahanjana.
However, the state prosecutor advocate Tholoana Sekhonyana presented compelling evidence, including testimony from the eight-year-old child and Nkune’s associate, which proved the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In delivering judgment, the court found the state witnesses to be credible, reliable and corroborated by objective evidence.
She said the court further found that Nkune and Chego had jointly planned and executed the crimes and accordingly convicted them on all counts. Mahanjana said the NPA remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime, including those in positions of trust, are held accountable for their actions.
“This conviction sends a clear message that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will face the full might of the law. The NPA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to delivering justice for victims of violent crime and their families. The matter has been postponed to 10 August 2026, for sentencing proceedings,” she said.
The Guardian 