17.08.2025
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Murdered Mpumalanga police Sergeant laid to rest

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  • Funeral notice of the slain police officer

Provincial MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison in Mpumalanga Jackie Macie says those who kill the police are waging the war against the state.

Macie was speaking at the funeral of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni who was fatally wounded when him and his colleagues were responding to a business robbery on Friday last week in Schoemansdal, Nkomazi.

Mtshweni served in the police service for 18 years.

“When you kill an officer, it means you are undermining the state. Then you are declaring a war to the state. Ours is to fight fire with fire, we are at a crossroad where there’s no turning back. We are excited with the development and the news that two are arrested. There are those who are still at large. Let them surrender and hand themselves in or otherwise we will get them and when we get them, we don’t know what will happen.”

Mpumalanga Acting Police Commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi paid tribute to Mtshweni, describing him as a brave and dedicated officer. Mkhwanazi told the family that they are working tirelessly to bring to book, those who were involved in Mtshweni’s murder.

“We know that three of the suspects were killed in the Kingdom eSwatini on Thursday, two are in police custody and we are still getting more information on the others. We have positive leads and are looking forward to bringing justice to the family.”

The bereaved family has welcomed the arrest of the people suspected to be involved in the killing of Mtshweni. Nomsa Mtshweni-Matsimela the sister of the deceased says she is still in disbelief that her brother is no more.

“We are saddened about the passing of my brother. Dumisani was a bubbly person. He was a friend to this family and the community.  We are grateful for the police that they found some of the criminals and that they are looking for the rest, their response was swift, and this brings some comfort to us.”

Police union POPCRU’s provincial chairperson, Star Madi, called on police management to employ more officers to combat crime.

“It has been our concern that there is a shortage of members and more need to be employed so we can be able to police the more than 63 million population of South Africa. Yes, they are trying because there are more than 10 000 police officers employed every year, but we seem to be struggling to come close to actually having enough personnel because some of them are exiting, some are resigning while others are going on pension and some get fired, we will always have this shortage.”

 

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