Masemola 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.

- ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE robin [e-mail]

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, August 9.

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.

Yesterday, August 14, a joint operation was launched.