A policeman stationed in Pienaar near Mbombela was shot 5 times with his gun at his home in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
The police officer Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala, 45 year old was found dead with shot wounds, after he was shot 5 times, two times on his head and 3 times on body by a neighbour, in Gedlembane, Pienaar on Wednesday 03 August 2022.
Police in Mpumalanga has has strongly condemned the brutal killing of the police officer. The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela then activated a multidisciplinary approach to find the killer(s) of the member who was stationed at Kabokweni SAPS.
We like to send our sincere condolences 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. The ones that committed this barbaric act should be put where they belong before taking another life. We shall never rest until we achieve this
said the General.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said police in Pienaar were called to attend to a scene were a neighbour, alleged that she received a call from the mother of the the deceased. The neighbour told the police that she was told to check on her son as she is suspecting that her son might have been murdered.
Upon the police’s arrival, they found him motionless, laying in his bed with visible gun shot wounds on his body. 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.
said Mohlala
Mohlala added that there were also two cartridges found on the floor and his vehicle, a green VW Polo Classic as well as his service firearm and cellphone was missing but later discovered abandoned in the bushes. Police are investigating a case of murder with an additional charge of robbery.
The police further said while the police were still investigating the matter they received a tipoff in the area about a firearm that was seen near the road where police were conducting a roadblock allegedly belonging to the killed policeman.
“As police were still in shock upon what has happened, a passerby approached them (police) whilst conducting a roadblock at Newscom in Pienaar. The person indicated to the members that he saw a firearm next to the road, which was a few metres from a roadblock. It was later discovered that the firearm was the one that belonged to the deceased.
As police were still in shock upon what has happened, a passerby approached them (police) whilst conducting a road block at Newscom in Pienaar. The person indicated to the members that he saw a firearm next to the road, few metres from the roadblock. It was later discovered that the firearm was the one that belonged to the deceased.
said Mhlala
The police have since arrested a 29-year-old woman suspected to have been involved in the killing of the deceased. Police said the suspect was arrested within 24 hours at Dayizenza outside Mbombela where she was hiding at her boyfriend’s house.
She is expected to appear in court on Friday 05 August 2022 facing a charge of murder.