Cross-border manhunt leads to locating three suspected cop killers to eSwatini: SAPS

JOHANNESBURG - A cross-border manhunt has traced and located three suspected cop killers to the Kingdom of eSwatini.

The operation led by the Mpumalanga police culminated in the tracing of the three men involved in the murder of sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni.

Mtshweni was shot and killed by more than seven armed robbers at a store in Schoemansdal, in Mpumalanga, last week.

The first suspect was arrested on Saturday in the country by the Mpumalanga police.

Further investigations led police to the Kingdom of eSwatini, where three other suspects were traced to the Sishweleni region in the early hours of Thursday.

The police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, explained: 

“The first two suspects were shot at a hideout in Sishweleni region, they were fatally wounded as they charged at police when police announced their arrival. The third suspect was then also located in the same vicinity. He allegedly committed suicide before police could arrest him.”

Mathe added that the breakthrough comes at a time when police are still searching for Jabulani Moyo, the man wanted in connection with the murder of two police detectives in Roodepoort last Friday.