A detective is murdered. The trail leads to South Africa's elite soldiers. #bbcafricaeye investigates.

Episode 1 of a two-part investigation. Episode 2 available from 24 August 2026.

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When police investigator Frans Mathipa began investigating the abduction of a suspected Islamic State operative by South Africa's Special Forces, the case led him deep into the shadowy world of covert operations - a journey from which he would never return.

Months later, he was fatally shot on a highway outside Pretoria.

Now, with exclusive access to police evidence documents and interviews with high-ranking insiders, Africa Eye investigates the extraordinary events surrounding his death. It is a tale of secrecy, subterfuge and an alleged cover-up that reaches the darkest corners of South Africa's security establishment.

At the centre of the case are members of the country's elite Special Forces, who allegedly orchestrated the killing of Frans Mathipa to suppress a police investigation into their operations.

Drawing on unprecedented access to evidence and insider testimony, this documentary pieces together the events that lead to one of the most explosive criminal cases in modern South African history. The investigation raises disturbing questions about power, accountability and impunity - and examines whether a detective's pursuit of the truth ultimately cost him his life.

00:00 The Murder of Frans Mathipa
01:52 Meet the Journalists
02:36 Mathipa’s family
05:34 A police insider speaks out
06:23 Mathipa’s last case - Abdella Abadigga
10:46 Smuggled into South Africa
13:48 Abadigga’s activities
17:07 A protected asset?
21:13 Refugee status expires
22:19 Disappearance from Mall of Africa
25:16 A theory emerges
25:38 Preview: Episode 2

🎧 Listen to The Documentary Podcast, 'Special forces on Trial': https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p02nq0lx

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📽️ Watch more investigative journalism from our award-winning #bbceye investigations team at this documentary playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playli....st?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4

You may also be interested in watching these BBC Africa Eye documentaries:
https://youtu.be/wmIsgTIoW3I
https://youtu.be/xVrUb7xwRcA
https://youtu.be/-vQvFRDCa2g
https://youtu.be/Qk9HEzcFiZ4
https://youtu.be/QPB42_uLLh0
https://youtu.be/rogZ8BYg-kM

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