Cape Town – Mpumalanga police are reeling in shock following the brutal murder of their colleague who was shot five times with his own service pistol.
The police officer, Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala, was found dead by a neighbour at Gedlembane, Pienaar on Wednesday morning.
In a statement, police said the neighbour was allegedly asked by the mother of the deceased to go and check on the officer, as she suspected he had been murdered.
Police were called to the scene.
“Upon the police’s arrival, they found him motionless, laying in his bed with visible gunshot wounds on his body. He was shot five times allegedly with his service pistol, two times in the head and three times on his upper body,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
The 45-year-old officer was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.
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“There were also two cartridges found on the floor and his vehicle, a green Volkswagen Polo Classic with registration DSV 112 MP. His service firearm and cellphone were missing but later discovered abandoned in the bushes. A murder case with [an] additional charge of robbery was opened for investigation…
“A 29-year-old woman has been arrested within 24 hours at Dayizenza, hiding at her boyfriend’s house,” said Mohlala.
Provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the brutal murder of the police officer.
“We send our sincere condolences to the family of our member. We are very much concerned about the killing of members, especially at the Kabokweni area since the past months,” she said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
