Mophosho guilty of murder

THE police officer convicted yesterday of killing three service delivery protesters had brought illegal ammunition from Marikana and then concealed evidence after mowing down his victims.

Delivering her judgment, North Gauteng High Court Judge Letty Molopa-Sethosa described former warrant officer Hyde Mophosho as a lying witness whose evidence was riddled with inconsistencies.

Mophosho was convicted on three counts of murder, two of attempted murder and one of possession of illegal ammunition.

Molopa-Sethosa said Mophosho intended to kill as he had brought SSG pellet-bullets – banned for use in public order policing – to a water protest in Mothutlung, North West, on January 12 2014.

Three residents – Michael Tshele, Osia Rahube and Maboifane Seemela – were shot and killed by police bullets while others were severely injured.

Mophosho told the court he suspected he was the one who had used illegal ammunition unknowingly when he confessed to his superior afterwards.

At the time, his boss asked him where he got the SSG and in his response Mophosho said “Marikana ”– but was stopped before he could finish.

In the aftermath of the Marikana massacre in 2012, it was discovered that some of the mineworkers had been shot with SSG bullets.

“Based on the evidence it is clear that the accused is the one that brought the SSG and fired it into the crowd, killing and injuring the victims.”