Pretoria – Three suspects in the murder of SA Police Service (SAPS) Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni have been tracked down and arrested in neighbouring Eswatini.
Two other suspects have been shot dead by the Royal Eswatini Police.
Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni was shot dead while responding to a robbery.
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Commenting on the arrests of the suspects on Thursday, 14 August 2025, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “The cross-border operation led by the SAPS Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, culminated in the tracing of three suspects involved in the murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni”.
Brigadier Mathe added: “Sergeant Lawrence 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 2025.
“The first suspect was arrested on Saturday, 9 August 2025, in South Africa by Mpumalanga police.
“Further investigation led SAPS to the Kingdom, 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 they noticed the police, they opened fire on them.
The Eswatini Royal Police report that they returned fire, fatally shooting both 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,” said Brigadier Mathe.
SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has praised the cross-border operation.
“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 are looking 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 many boots on the ground as possible to prevent and combat crime.”
General Masemola said the breakthrough comes at a time when the SAPS was still searching for Jabulani Moyo, who shot and killed two police detectives.
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The wanted Zimbabwean was being transported back to the Boksburg Correctional Services after appearing in court on an armed robbery case when he disarmed and fatally shot the two police officers.
The SAPS is offering a reward of R150 000 to anyone who can share information on the whereabouts of Moyo.
