Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
11 March 2025
A Police Sergeant (42), identified as Nyiko Nyathi, was arrested after handing herself over to the authorities at Bushbuckridge Police Station today, Monday 10 March 2025. She has appeared at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court (on 10 March 2025) in connection with allegations of her husband’s murder and that of another woman.
According to information, in February 2024, Lawrence Alba Mashego (44) was reportedly attacked by a group of armed men at his house in Boikutsong Trust in Bushbuckridge. The armed men robbed him of his Toyota Quatum and Ford Escort, then got kidnapped. The two vehicles were reportedly used by the armed suspects as a mode of transport to reach a certain house in Zoeknoeg. At the house, they found Victoria Lebyane (44), Mashego’s female friend, in possession of Mashego’s bank cards.
Mashego was then robbed of about R4 000 cash as well as some bank cards belonging to her. After that, she was fatally shot by the suspects.
The matter was probed by the men and women in Blue, where a thorough investigation was carried out, leading to the arrest of four suspects in connection with the incident. One of the suspects then pleaded guilty and sentenced to 77 years imprisonment.
It is through further investigation that the Police Sergeant was fingered in the murder of Mashego and Lebyane. Nyathi is stationed at Bushbuckridge SAPS.
During the Court appearance, the case was postponed to Wednesday, 12 March 2025, for a formal bail application.
Meanwhile, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the arrest of the female SAPS member. The General further emphasized that if anyone is suspected to have committed crime, irregardless of their social status or position, the law will have to take its course without any fear or favour. “The SAPS remains resolute to be intolerant to any criminality within our ranks, ” said the General.
