Police commissioner hails cross-border raid that ends cop killer manhunt

The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has thanked the Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police, Commissioner Vusie Manoma Masango, for his cooperation in a cross-border operation that traced three alleged police killers to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The operation, led by Acting Provincial Commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, followed the murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, 47, who was gunned down while responding to an armed robbery at a local retailer in Schoemansdal near Komatipoort in the early hours of Saturday, 9 August.

One suspect was arrested on the same day, and further investigation led SAPS to Eswatini, where information was shared with the Royal Eswatini Police and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.

In a statement, the Royal Eswatini Police said their investigation revealed that the suspects had crossed the border. Intelligence indicated they were hiding in Nyakatfo in the Hhohho Region and in Mantambe in the Shiselweni Region.

On Thursday, 14 August, a joint operation was launched.

“In the early hours of today, a joint operation led by the Royal Eswatini Police Service, supported by a security cordon from the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, moved in on the location in Nyakatfo.

Two suspects, armed with a pistol, opened fire as they attempted to flee. Police returned fire, fatally wounding both,” officials said.

A third suspect, traced to his parental home in Mantambe, took his own life with a pistol before officers could arrest him. The Royal Eswatini Police praised the collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to combating cross-border crime.

Masemola commended the joint operation.

“On behalf of all the men and women in blue and the family of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, we thank the Royal Eswatini Police, led by Commissioner Masango, and the Umbutfo Defence Force for assisting our Mpumalanga police in tracing these killers. We look forward to strengthening our cooperation on law enforcement matters,” he said.

Masemola noted with concern the recent surge in attacks on police officers and called on communities to support the SAPS in ending such crimes.

“Since 1 April 2025, we have already lost six officers. We cannot afford to lose more. We need as many boots on the ground as possible to prevent and combat crime,” he said.

The breakthrough comes as SAPS continues to search for Jabulani Moyo, who allegedly shot and killed two police detectives while being transported back to Boksburg Correctional Services after a court appearance in an armed robbery case in Gauteng on Friday, 8 August.

A reward of R150,000 has been offered for information on Moyo’s whereabouts.

All three slain police officers will be buried this weekend:

• Warrant Officer Vuyisile Sintwa will be buried on Sunday, 17 August 2025, in Mandilore, Krugersdorp.

• Sergeant Simon Masenye will be buried on Saturday, 16 August 2025, in Munsieville.

• Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni will be buried on Saturday, 16 August 2025, in Schoemansdal.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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