‘If only they had just killed them’: shock after ‘dedicated’ cops burnt to death

A tiny North West town has been robbed of two long-serving police officers. Their dedication to tracking down goat thieves left them dead in a brutal attack that plunged the peaceful Mareetsane community in mourning.

“We’re still trying to process this because there’s no way you can describe this loss. It comes at a time when we’re affected by this (Covid-19) pandemic, where we are losing some of our members ... now this loss really is too tragic to contemplate,” provincial deputy police commissioner Maj-Gen Patrick Asaneng said.

Const Simon Ngakaemang Ntsekeletsa, 50, and Sgt Mojalefa Horatius Molete, 42, were set alight and burnt to death in their patrol car after running into suspected livestock thieves.

The pair, who were last heard from when they told their commander they were bringing the culprits in, were described by Asaneng as model officers who treated everyone with respect. Combined, they had more than 40 years’ experience in the police service.

“We’ve never had an incident like that in that community. When you go to that station, you’ll never find murder or firearm [cases] ... everybody is just in shock.”

Ntsekeletsa’s cousin James said he knew the deeply religious father of three “like the back of my hand”. 

“He would never miss a family event and [always] availed himself for each and every occasion [when he was not working]. He was hard working. He was [like] a younger brother to me, very obedient, humble ... there are many things [I’ll miss about him]," he said.

Molete’s sister Boitumelo shared fond memories of her younger brother, the third of four children. 

“He was very sweet, but strict when it came to work. He always did his job [and] would call you to order if you did something you weren’t supposed to do. He didn’t tolerate bribes, even when he was based in Coligny, and he loved church very much.”

Boitumelo said while they were making peace with his death, questions remained about the manner in which he was killed.

“It was impossible to recognise him,” the devastated woman said. 

The charred remains of the officers’ bodies were discovered last Tuesday after community members reported blood stains in the road leading to the police station.

North West Hawks spokesperson Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said Ntsekeletsa and Molete had spotted a vehicle loaded with suspected stolen goats and reported the incident to their commander before informing him they would be “bringing the suspects’ vehicle to the police station soon”.

“About an hour later, the police reported that they were not far from the police station. However, they never arrived and could not be reached on their cellphones or police radio. A manhunt was immediately launched.”

A day later, after being alerted to the blood in the road, the police found a knife and their police badges. Further investigations led to a burnt state vehicle, with the officers’ remains inside. 

Five people — Benjamin Jacobs, Jeremiah Mongale, Rapulana Keikantse, Matthews Modukanele and a teenager — have been arrested and appeared in the Itsoseng magistrate’s court on murder, malicious damage to property and possession of a stolen firearm charges.

The families of the slain officers will bid them farewell at a joint memorial service in Mahikeng on Friday, followed by a joint funeral in Lichtenburg on Saturday.

Boitumelo said shock at the brutality of the attack had not worn off.

“We never thought that something so ruthless could happen. We know as officers that their lives are constantly in danger, but the way they died is just painful for us to accept. If only they had just killed them and not burnt them.”