Top Cop murder was planned: NPA
The murder of former Johannesburg cluster commander Maj-Gen Thirani Maswanganyi was premeditated, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Monday.
Due to the gravity of the matter, the four men arrested in connection with the murder would face a serious schedule six offence, spokesman Medupe Simasiku said.
"They are charged with [premeditated] murder schedule six. It's a pre-planned murder," he told reporters at the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court.
"The matter is postponed today [Monday] to the 12th of July provisionally to give the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) time to give instructions on how we should proceed."
He said thorough investigations were underway.
"I believe the police currently doing the investigations are doing a sterling job to make sure this matter goes to court as we planned."
The four accused are Tshepo Mosai, 30, Roger Godfrey Moseki, 33, Ndaedzo Isaac Vele, 29, and Nditsheni Daniel Nefolovhodwe, 32.
Simasiku said he could not rule out the possibility of more suspects being arrested in connection with Maswanganyi's murder.
The senior policeman was found dead on June 17, in a field near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, with his hands and feet tied.
A police patrol found his Isuzu bakkie abandoned next to the R101. A police uniform and police identification card were in the bakkie, which prompted a search.
In a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday, the four men requested to be examined by doctors.
They said through their lawyers that police had assaulted them after their arrest.
The matter was postponed to July 12 after prosecutor Lucas Moseki asked that the matter be provisionally delayed.
Moseki said the four, if they were assaulted by officers, should lay criminal charges.
All four remained in custody. There was additional security at the court on Monday with several police tactical response officers in the packed courtroom.
Numerous reporters and photographers attended proceedings.
- Sapa