Former SAPS officer and parolee convicted of luring a couple into a deadly trap before murdering them and abandoning their children.
Image: Itumeleng English/African News Agency (ANA).
A former SAPS officer who joined forces with a parolee has been convicted of a double murder in the Pretoria High Court.
Jacob Mothibe Chego, 41, a former employee of White River Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) and Rassie Hlabirwa Nkune, 37, were convicted on two counts of premeditated murder of a couple, Lucky Mogashoa his wife and Sabeliwe Zwane.
The duo were also found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, four counts of kidnapping, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.
In addition, Nkune was convicted of two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Explaining the case, the National Prosecuting Authority said:
"On 16 March 2022, Mr 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," said NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
"The following day, Nkune, posing as a police officer, contacted Mr 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."
Mahanjana 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 Mr 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. 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."
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."
The Court further found that Nkune and Chego had jointly planned and executed the crimes and accordingly convicted them on all counts.
The matter has been postponed to August 2026 for sentencing proceedings.
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