NATIONAL NEWS - National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has thanked the Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, for their cooperation and assistance in tracing three police killers to the Kingdom of Eswatini. 

The cross-border operation, led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Zeph Mkhwanazi, culminated in the tracing of three suspects involved in the murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni.

Mtshweni was shot and killed by more than seven armed robbers during an armed robbery at a store in Schoemansdal, Mpumalanga, on Friday, 8 August. 

The first suspect was arrested on Saturday in South Africa by Mpumalanga police. Further investigations led the South African Police Service (SAPS) to Eswatini, where information was shared with the Royal Eswatini Police and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force. 

According to the Royal Eswatini Police, two suspects were traced to the Sishweleni region. When the suspects noticed police, they opened fire at them and the Eswatini Royal Police returned fire, fatally wounding the two suspects.

Further investigation led Eswatini police to Mantambe in Shiselweni, where the third suspect allegedly took his own life with a pistol before police officers could arrest him. 

“On behalf of all the men and women in blue and the family of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, we would like to thank the Royal Eswatini Police, led by Commissioner Masango, as well as the role played by the Umbutfo Defence Force, in assisting our Mpumalanga police to trace these police killers. 

“We look forward to strengthening and deepening our cooperation on matters of law enforcement. 

“The attacks and killing of our police officers is a concern and we request our communities to assist us in putting a stop to these killings. From 1 April 2025 to date, we have already lost six police officers. We cannot afford to lose more. 

“We need as much boots on the ground as possible to prevent and combat crime,” said Masemola.

This breakthrough comes at a time when SAPS is still searching for Jabulani Moyo, who shot and killed two police detectives who were transporting him back to the Boksburg Correctional Services centre after appearing in court on an armed robbery case. 

SAPS has made an offer of R150 000 to anyone who can share information on the whereabouts of Moyo. 

The leadership of SAPS, spearheaded by Masemola, will this weekend attend the three funerals of the members who died in the line of duty this past week. 

The details are as follows: 

• Warrant Officer Vuyisile Sintwa will be buried on Sunday, 17 August in Mandilore, Krugersdorp. 
• Sergeant Simon Masenye will be buried on Saturday, 16 August in Munsieville. 
• Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni will be buried on Saturday, 16 August in Schoemansdal. 

“The SAPS Commemoration Day is around the corner and will take place on Sunday, 7 September, where 27 police officers, who lost their lives on duty, will be remembered,” SAPS said. – SAnews.gov.za

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