News24 | Sergeant Mtshweni murder: 2 suspects killed in shootout, one kills himself as cops close in

Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni was killed on 8 August in an armed robbery at a store in Schoemansdal, Mpumalanga.

• Three men linked to the murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni were tracked down to Eswatini.
• Two were killed in a shootout with police and a third killed himself.
• Six police officers have been killed in the line of duty since April 2025.

As the SA Police and Royal Eswatini Police Services were about to arrest three men in connection with the recent murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, one shot himself and the other two were killed in a shootout.

Mtshweni was killed in a robbery involving seven heavily armed suspects at a store in Schoemansdal, Mpumalanga, on 8 August.

The following day, police made a breakthrough, according to national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, with the arrest of one person on 9 August in South Africa.

Further intelligence pointed to the involvement of two men in Eswatini, who were traced to the Sishweleni region, according to the Royal Eswatini Police Service.

“When they noticed the police, they opened fire on them, and the Eswatini royal police returned fire, fatally killing the two suspects,” Mathe said.

A third man was found at his parental home in Mantambe, Shiselweni, where he reportedly used a gun to kill himself before he could be arrested.

READ | SAPS hunt cop killers after 3 officers fatally shot in the line of duty

National police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, thanked Eswatini commissioner of police Vusie Masango, and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force for their collaboration.

“On behalf of all the men and women in blue and the family of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, we would like to thank the Royal Eswatini Police, led by Commissioner Masango, as well as the role played by the Umbutfo Defence Force in assisting our Mpumalanga police to trace these police killers,” Masemola said.

He added that the partnership was crucial in combating the murder of police officers.

The top cop said:

“We need as many boots on the ground as possible to prevent and combat crime,” Masemola said.

This comes as a search is under way for Jabulani Moyo, who is accused of killing two police detectives who were transporting him back to the Boksburg correctional facility after appearing in court in Roodepoort.

Police have offered a reward of R150 000 for information leading to his arrest.

Six police officers have been killed in the line of duty since April.