A 42-year-old police sergeant, Nyiko Nyathi, has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and brutal murder of her husband and his female friend in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
According to Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a spokesperson for the Mpumalanga provincial police, Nyathi turned herself in at the Bushbuckridge police station.
She appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 10, 2025, facing charges related to the murders of her husband and another woman.
Reports indicate that in February 2024, Lawrence Alba Mashego, 44, was attacked by a group of armed men at his home in Boikhutsong Trust, Bushbuckridge. The assailants stole his Toyota Quantum and Ford Escort before kidnapping him.
The stolen vehicles were used by the suspects to travel to a house in Zoeknog, where they found Mashego’s female friend, Victoria Lebyane, 44, in possession of Mashego’s bank cards.
Lebyane was reportedly robbed of approximately R4,000 in cash and various bank cards belonging to Mashego. After that, both Mashego and Lebyane were murdered by the attackers.
The incident was thoroughly investigated by law enforcement, leading to the arrest of four suspects. One of the suspects has since pleaded guilty and received a 77-year prison sentence.
As the investigation progressed, Nyathi was implicated in the murders of her husband and Lebyane. Her court appearance resulted in the case being postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application.
Meanwhile, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, expressed his support for Nyathi’s arrest. He emphasized that the law will hold all individuals accountable for criminal activities, regardless of their status or position.
“The SAPS remains committed to addressing any criminal behavior within our ranks,” Mkhwanazi stated.
