Warrant Officer Ennice Nortman Dies After Being Struck by BMW at Lichtenburg Mall, Suspect Charged With Murder
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A 53-year-old South African Police Service (SAPS) officer has died after being struck by a BMW sport utility vehicle at Lichtenburg Mall in North West, with a 23-year-old man arrested and charged with murder in connection with the incident.
Warrant Officer Ennice Nortman, who was attached to the North West Provincial Crime Intelligence unit in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, sustained serious injuries in the incident on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Police confirmed that Nortman was on duty when she was struck while crossing the driveway at Lichtenburg Mall on Dr Nelson Mandela Drive in Lichtenburg.
Emergency medical services transported her to hospital for treatment. However, she succumbed to her injuries later that evening.
CCTV Footage Shows Moments Before Collision
CCTV footage of the incident has circulated on social media, drawing attention to the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death.
According to reports describing the footage, Nortman had parked her vehicle and approached a pedestrian crossing. She was seen signalling to the driver of a white BMW SUV that she intended to cross before proceeding.
The footage reportedly shows the vehicle striking Nortman as she crossed the driveway and driving over her before coming to a stop near another vehicle.
Nortman was left lying on the ground following the impact as people gathered at the scene.
The circumstances captured in the footage have become a key point of public discussion, while the criminal investigation is expected to establish the full sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Police have urged members of the public not to circulate footage of the incident on social media, warning that sharing such material could compromise ongoing investigations.
23-Year-Old Suspect Arrested
A 23-year-old man, identified as Akilesh Gupta, was arrested following preliminary investigations into Nortman’s death.
Police confirmed that Gupta faces a murder charge. Authorities are also pursuing further charges relating to an alleged contravention of immigration legislation.
The charges relate to the circumstances surrounding the incident and remain subject to the criminal court process. The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Police have not yet announced a final outcome in the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Accused Appears in Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court
Gupta appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
He was remanded in custody pending his next court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
The upcoming court date is expected to provide a further opportunity for the matter to proceed through the judicial process.
The murder investigation and the additional immigration-related allegations remain separate matters for the relevant authorities and court to address.
Nortman Was Serving in Crime Intelligence
Nortman was a member of the North West Provincial Crime Intelligence unit, serving in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
Her death has drawn attention to the loss suffered by the police service and the circumstances in which she was struck while on duty.
North West Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams expressed condolences following the deaths of two police officers in separate road incidents in the province.
The second officer, Constable Itumeleng Johannes Pule, aged 40, died in a separate collision on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
Pule was attached to the Vryburg Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
Investigation Into Nortman’s Death Continues
The investigation into Nortman’s death remains ongoing as the accused prepares for his next court appearance.
The murder charge places the matter within the criminal justice system, where evidence relating to the collision will be considered as proceedings continue.
The investigation will be central to establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident and determining the criminal responsibility, if any, of those involved.
As of Thursday, 22 October 2026, Gupta had appeared in court and remained in custody pending his next appearance on 27 October.
No final court finding had been reported at the time of publication.
Prime Time News will provide further updates as additional verified information becomes available.
OTHER NEWS
Four Men Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Deadly Limpopo Cash-in-Transit Robbery
Four men have been sentenced to life imprisonment, together with additional lengthy prison terms exceeding 100 years each, for their involvement in a cash-in-transit robbery in Limpopo that resulted in the death of a G4S escort driver.
The Polokwane High Court handed down the sentences on 20 October 2026 after the four men were convicted in connection with the attack, which took place in the Klaasier area in September 2023.
Victor Mhlanga, 31, David Matola, 55, Solomon Moyo, 31, and Fannie Blessing Maselela, 36, were each sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, alongside additional prison terms for other offences linked to the robbery.
Mhlanga, Matola and Moyo each received an additional 116 years in prison, while Maselela was sentenced to a further 115 years. The additional sentences will run concurrently with their life sentences for murder.
All four men were also declared unfit to possess firearms.
Armed attack on cash-in-transit vehicle
The robbery occurred on 20 September 2023 in the Klaasier area, within the Hoedspruit policing precinct in the Mopani District of Limpopo.
Approximately 12 armed suspects allegedly attacked a G4S armoured vehicle, a truck and a Toyota bakkie during the incident.
The attack resulted in the death of the G4S escort driver, who was shot during the robbery. His firearm was stolen, while an undisclosed amount of cash was taken.
Four suspects were killed during the incident. Another suspect was injured and arrested at the scene.
The incident formed part of the investigation that ultimately led to the convictions and lengthy sentences imposed on the four men.
Four men convicted on multiple charges
The four accused faced several charges arising from the robbery and related criminal activity.
These included murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of explosives and malicious damage to property.
The case was investigated by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Phalaborwa.
The investigation focused on the armed robbery and the killing of the escort driver, with the subsequent court proceedings resulting in the convictions and sentences handed down by the Polokwane High Court.
Nationalities of the sentenced men
The four men sentenced in the case are nationals of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Mhlanga and Matola are Mozambican nationals, while Moyo is a Zimbabwean national. Maselela is a South African national.
Their sentences include life imprisonment for murder, with the additional terms reflecting the other offences for which they were sentenced.
Hawks welcome lengthy sentences
Limpopo Hawks Provincial Head Major General (Adv.) Gobz Govender commended the investigators and other role-players involved in securing the convictions.
Govender acknowledged that the sentences could not bring back the deceased escort driver but said the outcome demonstrated that his life mattered and that those responsible had been held accountable.
He also expressed hope that the court’s decision would provide some comfort to the bereaved family.
The sentences mark the conclusion of the court proceedings against the four men in connection with the deadly cash-in-transit robbery.
The case highlights the serious criminal consequences faced by those convicted of murder, armed robbery and other offences associated with attacks on cash-in-transit operations.
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