BY NOKWANDA DLAMINI (INTERN)
MANZINI – The Royal Eswatini Police Service have arrested a 25-year-old man, Mpumelelo Thokozani Manana of Bulunga in Manzini, on Friday, April 10, 2026, in connection with alleged housebreaking and theft cases reported in Manzini and Matsapha, where several business premises were reportedly targeted in a string of break-ins under investigation.
The arrest followed intensified police operations aimed at curbing business burglaries in the Matsapha industrial area and surrounding commercial zones, where Manana was initially detained over an alleged housebreaking incident at Standard Bank in Manzini city centre before further investigations linked him to additional alleged cases.
Manana was later connected to an alleged supermarket break-in in Matsapha on April 7, 2026, where approximately E207 000 was allegedly stolen. During the arrest, police recovered E108 690, which they believe forms part of the stolen money, a development described as a positive step toward recovering losses suffered by affected businesses.
Investigators also linked him to two separate alleged housebreaking incidents reported in April 2025 in Matsapha, where two shops were allegedly broken into and cigarettes and cash were stolen. He is further linked to another alleged break-in at Checkers in Manzini, where approximately E300 000 was reportedly taken.
Police have described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle criminal networks targeting businesses in the region, noting that coordinated investigations and persistent follow-ups played a key role in the development.
Manana is expected to appear before the Manzini Magistrate’s Court today facing multiple charges of housebreaking and theft. Police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing and have not ruled out the possibility of linking him to additional cases.
Members of the public and the business community have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities, as cooperation remains crucial in strengthening safety and reducing crime in affected areas.
#EswatiniNews #Manzini #CrimeWatch #Police #BreakingNews
