A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for the murder of a Hawks officer who was fatally shot during a shootout with suspects in Mamelodi in June 2023.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo confirmed that Ephraim Lonwabo Makoko was sentenced by the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, after being convicted of murder, attempted murder and firearm-related offences.
The incident occurred on 8 June 2023 when Sergeant Leka Philip Maja, who was attached to the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS), was killed while responding to information about suspects allegedly in possession of illegal, high-calibre rifles at the Mamelodi Lusaka Informal Settlement.
According to Singo, members of the TOMS team arrived at a house where the suspects allegedly opened fire, resulting in a shootout in which Maja was fatally wounded.
Makoko was subsequently arrested and appeared in court on several occasions before his sentencing.
The court sentenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment for murder, 15 years for attempted murder on four counts, 15 years for a second murder count, 15 years for unlawful possession of firearms and five years for unlawful possession of ammunition.
He was, however, acquitted on murder counts 2, 3 and 4.
The court ordered the sentences on counts 5 to 11 to run concurrently with the 25-year murder sentence, meaning Makoko will effectively serve 25 years in prison.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Acting National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Siphesihle Nkosi, commended the investigating officer and prosecutor for their diligent and professional work, which led to Makoko’s conviction and sentencing, Singo said.
