A leader affiliated with feared Basotho famo gang Terene ea Chakela has become a victim in a deadly war with a rival gang.
Ben “Sefela” Makhaleme, 45, was shot eight times in Klipspruit, Soweto, after he was stalked by an unknown gunman who shot him before hopping into a getaway vehicle.
He was killed shortly before a meeting to elect the gang’s Gauteng leader on Sunday.
Makhaleme is the latest casualty of a bloody war defined by revenge killings between his gang and splinter group Terene ea Mokata, which emerged in 2021.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said a case of murder was being investigated and no arrests had been made.
An eyewitness and associate of Makhaleme, who was with him when he was shot, told TimesLIVE Premium he and the deceased were walking towards the meeting venue when they were ambushed.
The witness, who asked not to be named as he fears for his life, said the gunman blindsided them before opening fire.
“It seems as though he [the gunman] had been waiting for Sefela. We did not see him coming because he opened fire on us from behind. I ran and jumped into a nearby ditch while gunfire went off behind me. When I turned to see what was happening, I saw Sefela lying on the ground. The gunman went closer and shot him twice in the head before jumping into a VW Polo waiting for him.
“We were due to have a meeting shortly before he was killed. The purpose of our meeting was to select a regional leader ahead of our association's main gathering in Bloemfontein on December 12 ... I do not know if this was a hit that was orchestrated from within our group or if it was as a result of Mokata’s group,” he said.
Another eyewitness said the getaway car was spotted in the area a few hours before Makhaleme was killed.
“After he was shot there was a lady who hopped into the vehicle before the gunman was picked up. They seem to have specifically targeted him because that car was parked in our area for more than three hours before he was killed,” said the witness.
A police source close to the investigation said an initial inquiry indicated Makhaleme was killed by rival gang members.
“We thought the killings would have come to an end because we arrested five members from the other gang who were instrumental in the Soweto tavern murders. We have a warrant of arrest for five others in connection with the same murders and other murders that took place in different parts of Gauteng and in North West,” said the officer.
Makhaleme’s murder took place less than a kilometre from Nomzamo Park, where 16 patrons were killed when gunmen stormed Mdlalose’s Tavern and opened fire indiscriminately. At the time, TimesLIVE Premium established that the gunmen were searching for one of Chakela’s members, Tshepo Lekoepe, who was among tavern patrons before they opened fire. Five others were injured.
At least 23 people, including the 16 at the tavern and Makhaleme, have been murdered since the start of the rivalry.
Gauteng police have issued warrants of arrest in connection with the murders for Mokata’s leaders Sarele Sello and Tshepiso Elliot Radebe, and members Thabang Radikatara, Tshidiso Moleko and Keletso Rabasotho. They have been on the run since August.
Another police source said Radebe was suspected of being a kingpin in the gang wars.
“Elliot is the mastermind in this gang. He is currently wanted for the murders of Abele Kgasipe and Daniel Kokotoane in September 2021. [They] were found in a field in Slovoville (Soweto),” said the source.
Masondo confirmed Radebe faced two charges of murder and that a warrant for his arrest had been issued.
Other murders alleged to have been committed by members of Mokata that authorities are investigating include:
- Kefuoe “Lelimo” Letsatsi, who was shot in Germiston in May.
- Lerotha Hlabanyane, who was killed outside his home in Klipspruit, Soweto, on July 9.
- Tshepo “Sephaka” Koepe, who was among the 16 patrons killed in the Soweto tavern massacre on July 10.
- Tsekiso Makate, who was also killed in Klipspruit while playing pool on October 3 2021. Makate’s younger brother, Mojalefa Makate, was also shot, but survived the attack.
Terene and many other Lesotho groups have their origins rooted in South Africa’s migrant labour system, which saw thousands of Lesotho nationals come in search of greener pastures in this country’s growing mining sector in the 1940s.
The purpose of the groups was to provide protection and brotherhood to their members, and extended to funeral services for migrant workers.
The groups are known to carry out vicious attacks on each other, their gripes rooted in disagreements originating in Lesotho. They fight for control of illegal mining activities, urban recycling and theft of copper cables.
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