A 29-year-old woman has been arrested for the murder of 45-year-old police officer Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala, who was found dead in his house with multiple gunshots to the upper body.
Police found the suspect hiding at her boyfriend’s house in Dayizenza, Mbombela (Formerly Nelspruit), Mpumalanga.
The police officer, who was stationed at Kabokweni Police Station, was found dead by a neighbour on Wednesday morning in Gedlembane, Pienaar.
The neighbour said she received a call from officer Thwala’s mother requesting her to check on her son.
When the neighbour found the officer dead, she alerted the police in Pienaar, and they promptly arrived at about 7.30 am.
“Upon the police’s arrival, they found him motionless, laying in his bed with visible gunshot wounds on his body,” narrated Brigadier Selby Mohlala.
“He was shot five times allegedly with his service pistol, two times on the head and three times on his upper body.
“The Medical Service were summoned to the scene, unfortunately he was certified dead.”
Two cartridges were found on the floor.
Officer Thwala’s green VW Polo Classic (DSV 112 MP), his service firearm and cellphone were missing.
The gun was later discovered in the bushes, next to the road, by a passerby.
He pointed it out to the police officers, who had mounted a roadblock in the area.
Commenting on the murder of the poice officer, Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela said: “We like to send our sincere condolonces to the family of our member.
“We are very much concerned about the killing of members, especially in the Kabokweni area in the past months.”
Lieutenant Genera Manamela said the police would not rest until all the culprits were caught.
