Byline: Andani Matumba

03 August 2022

A 45 year old police officer was found dead with bullet wounds on his body in Gedlembane, Pienaar this morning, Wednesday 03 August 2022, around 07h30.

Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala was a police officer stationed at Kabokweni SAPS and according to the media statement released by the office of the Provincial Commissioner the police at Pienaar were called to attend to a scene.

According to police information, a neighbour who discovered the dead officer alleges that she received a call from his mother, requesting the neighbour to check on her son as she is suspecting that her son might have been murdered.

When the police arrived at the officer’s house, they found him laying in his bed with no signs of movement with visible gunshot wounds on his body.

The police discovered two cartridges on the floor, however, the deceased’s motor vehicle, service fire arm and his cellphone were taken from his home and were later discovered abandoned by the bushes.

Emergency medical services were summoned to the scene and he was unfortunately certified dead on the scene.

“A civilian approached the 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 and it was later discovered that the firearm was the one that belonged to the deceased,” said Brigadier Selby Mohala in the media statement.

A lady (29) has been since arrested in connection to the murder and was found within 24 hours at Dayizenza hiding at her boyfriend’s house.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela condemns the killing of police officers and has activated a multidisciplinary approach to find the killers.

The General has further vowed that the police in partnership with the community will work together to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are soon brought to book.

” We like to send our sincere condolences to the family of our member.

We are very much concerned about the killing of members more especially at Kabokweni area since 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.