Twelve members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Special Task Force appeared before the Randburg Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg in connection with the August 6, 2023, murder of Hawks Specialist Investigator Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa. The accused are also charged with the kidnapping of Ethiopian national and alleged ISIS leader Abdella Abadiga and his bodyguard. The bail hearing for the twelve SANDF members was initially held in late June and early July 2025, with proceedings postponed to July 11 for judgment. On July 11, the court granted bail to all twelve accused, setting the amount at R10,000 each. They were released on strict bail conditions. The case remains under judicial process as the investigation into the murders continues.