The grieving families of two police constables brutally murdered inside the Koffiefontein police station are breaking their silence, demanding answers and justice after eight years of what they describe as an agonizing and opaque investigation.
Constables Mzonani Manjo and Boitumelo Mekoa were killed on duty in June 2017. Their bodies were discovered by colleagues returning from an evening patrol to the very station they were tasked to protect. The case was immediately referred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), but to date, no arrests have been made.
The events of that night remain a source of vivid trauma for the families. The constables had left for their night shift, ready to serve their community, but never returned home. Instead, their families received the devastating news that Mekoa had been shot once in the head, while Manjo was shot in the back and the head.
The murder of the officers at a place many consider a safe haven has left a permanent void. A relative of one victim described the profound personal impact, stating, “I nearly lost it in 2018. I was admitted at the psychiatric institution… this thing affected me.”
Frustration is mounting as the families allege a near-total lack of communication from investigators. They say efforts to get answers, including emails sent to the police ministry, have been met with silence, leaving them “in the dark.”
This frustration is shared by the broader Koffiefontein community, where suspicions of foul play and a cover-up are growing. Community members point to troubling details from that night, noting that the police station’s radios were not functioning. This, they argue, should have prompted the patrolling officers to check in at the station more frequently.
“Isn’t it common sense that one would go in and ask… are there no cases reported?” a community representative questioned. “So those are all our frustrations around the matter.”
The community has vowed to intensify its pressure and is calling for direct intervention from the highest levels of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“We want top officials of the police… to come to Koffiefontein,” a community leader demanded. “It can’t be for 8 years that no one in this small community has seen or has heard something… we want answers.”
In response, the Hawks in the Free State have confirmed that the case remains open and under investigation. Provincial spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Zweli Mohobelele stated, “A task team was established at the level of the province to join resources and work on the case. Thus far, no one has been positively linked to the murder.”
Lt. Col. Mohobelele assured the public that all efforts are being taken to follow possible leads and that a reward for information leading to an arrest remains in place. However, for the families and a community still seeking closure, eight years of promises with no tangible results have eroded their hope for justice.
