Seven members of South Africa's special forces and one military police officer have been charged with the murder of senior police detective Lt Col Frans Mathipa, who was shot dead in August 2023. The BBC World Service has obtained exclusive access to the prosecution's case, which suggests the elite military unit was responsible for the detective's death as he investigated them.

Mathipa, a highly respected detective with an elite police unit known as The Hawks, had been pursuing a crucial piece of information for four months in a sensitive case. He reportedly feared his investigation could cost him his life, and two days later, his car was found overturned and he had been shot while driving.

The BBC's investigation, based on hundreds of pages of secret police and court documents, details evidence pointing to the special forces. Documents show the vehicle that trailed Mathipa before his death was registered to a front company for the special forces, and tracking data from that vehicle placed it at the scene of the shooting. One of the accused, Maj Sunnybooi Wambi, was also allegedly spotted at the scene of an abduction that Mathipa was investigating.

Following Mathipa's death, special forces allegedly issued a warning to The Hawks: "You can appoint 10 investigating officers; we will kill all of them," according to police documents. The South African army did not respond to BBC inquiries about its responsibility for Mathipa's killing.

The case Mathipa was investigating involved an Ethiopian man, Abdella Abadigga, who had been granted temporary asylum in South Africa and was alleged to be a so-called Islamic State militant. The investigation reportedly delved into the circumstances surrounding Abadigga's alleged abduction.

Despite the charges, the trial date has not been set. Concerns have been raised about the progress of the case, as three of the men charged with Mathipa's murder have refused to comply with a court order revoking their bail. These individuals reportedly continue to serve in the army's special forces, with one having received a promotion.

This case has caused significant concern within South Africa, described as one of Africa's most robust democracies. There are fears that the country's military may be exceeding its designated mandate, leading to apprehension about power dynamics and accountability within state institutions.

The BBC's reporting includes interviews with key sources involved in the police investigation, including South Africa's former head of counter-terrorism in The Hawks, Mathipa's commanding officer, and his family. This comprehensive account aims to provide the clearest public understanding of the events leading to the detective's death and the subsequent allegations against the special forces.