Johannesburg - A former police constable and two other accused who have been convicted of three murders will be sentenced by the North Gauteng High Court sitting in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Moses Dlamini said the trio were also convicted of attempted murder, assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
Another police constable was acquitted of all charges.
"The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation by IPID after the bodies of three murder suspects, allegedly tortured and executed by the police officers and their informants investigating the case, were found in an isolated area in Carletonville in May 2015."
Dlamini said two policemen went on the run after the murders were exposed. They were arrested after a manhunt that went on for a few weeks.
"It is alleged that in April 2015, the police officers, as well as three informants, went to arrest four murder suspects. The suspects were identified by informers and then arrested by the officers. One suspect was tortured until he passed out," said Dlamini.
"The policemen then took the suspect to a hospital where he was certified dead. They then drove around with the dead body in their vehicle as well as the other suspects to a field in Carletonville to cover up the evidence. It is alleged that the police officers shot the three suspects, but one escaped and was picked up by a passer-by who took him to hospital."
Dlamini said investigations led to the arrest of two police constables who were based at Springs and two civilians. They have been on trial since 22 May 2017.
"Constable Jim Maphale was convicted of three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of assault GBH, one count of kidnapping and one count of defeating the ends of justice. Two civilians (informants), namely Mpho Matlala and Lwazi Dlangamandla, were also convicted of the same charges as Maphale."