The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, has expressed his profound condolences following the murder of Sergeant Christoffer Lechuti.
The 47-year-old officer, attached to the Detective Unit in Christiana, was killed on the afternoon of Saturday, 07 February 2026, while off duty.
According to police reports, Sergeant Lechuti was at a local tavern in Christiana with a family member when two men allegedly kicked over his beer, sparking a verbal altercation. During the confrontation, one of the men is alleged to have stabbed Lechuti in the chest with a sharp instrument.
He was rushed to a local clinic but was certified dead shortly after arrival.
Following the murder, police immediately activated a 72-hour activation plan to apprehend the suspects. A 46-year-old suspect surrendered to the Christiana police on Saturday night. A second suspect, aged 32, was arrested in Christiana in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Both suspects are scheduled to appear at the Christiana Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 09 February 2026, facing a charge of murder.
The investigation into the matter has been taken over by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks.