A South African Special Forces general, Solly Lechoenyo, has found himself at the centre of a complex battle over the assassination of top Hawks investigator Lt-Col Frans Mathipa. Mathipa was gunned down on August 26, 2023, on the N1 near Hammanskraal after being lured into an ambush by an unknown man. The Hawks allege that Mathipa's assassination is linked to his investigation into the abduction of Ethiopian national Abdella Hussein Abadiga and his bodyguard Kadir Abotese.
The abduction of Abadiga and his bodyguard occurred on December 29, 2022, at the Mall of Africa. The Hawks claim that the abduction was carried out by a group of Special Forces operatives, including Recce Maj Sunnybooi Wambi, who is alleged to have led the operation. The Special Forces unit, known as the "Recces," claimed that they were conducting a civilian-clothed "training exercise" in the mall that day. However, the Hawks refused to let Mathipa's memory die and charged 12 Recces, including Lechoenyo, with the abduction and murder of Abadiga and his bodyguard.
Lechoenyo, who has 33 years of service under his belt, was deployed to Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), in 2013 as commander of a small 28-man Recce component of a protective SANDF task force. The task force was ordered to Bangui by former president Jacob Zuma to activate military protection clauses in a 2007 defence co-operation agreement between South Africa and the CAR. The agreement saw the SANDF train 1,300 of the CAR's Faca soldiers.
On March 22, 2013, a defensive line of over 1,100 African Fomac peacekeepers and 400 Faca soldiers at the town of Damara collapsed as the Séléka rebels began their assault. The SANDF was left to defend the capital, and Lechoenyo's Recces played a crucial role in the battle. The rebels ambushed Lechoenyo's Recces 10km out of Damara, wounding two, but the Recces managed to withdraw to Bangui.
The next morning, March 23, the Séléka commander, Gen Hassan Ahmat, ordered his Brigade Rouge to split into two parts. About 1,500 rebels ventured down the northeastern RN1 highway from Damara into withering fire from SANDF Parabats. Meanwhile, another 4,500 rebels barrelled down the northwestern RN2 and began crossing the Bafini River bridge. Lechoenyo's Recces, supported by a Faca platoon, charged into battle, engaging the enemy head-on.
The battle that ensued was intense, with the rebels proving to be well-trained, disciplined, and heavily armed. The SANDF's Recce Hornets ran out of 107mm rockets, and more than 60 of which had been fired. Despite being outnumbered, the Recces managed to hold their ground, and the battle eventually subsided. Lechoenyo's promotion to general officer commanding (GOC) Special Forces in January this year has provoked some outraged commentary in the media.
Lechoenyo and 11 other accused denied the charges and were given bail. The case is ongoing, with the Hawks alleging that the accused were involved in the abduction and murder of Abadiga and his bodyguard, as well as the assassination of Mathipa.
Key points
- Solly Lechoenyo, a South African Special Forces general, is at the centre of a battle over the assassination of top Hawks investigator Lt-Col Frans Mathipa.
- The assassination of Mathipa is linked to his investigation into the abduction of Ethiopian national Abdella Hussein Abadiga and his bodyguard Kadir Abotese.
- Lechoenyo has 33 years of service under his belt and was deployed to Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), in 2013 as commander of a small 28-man Recce component of a protective SANDF task force.
