BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE— Michael Hlatshwako, the suspect wanted in connection with the kidnapping and murder of eight-year-old Tifezile Gwebu, was arrested on Tuesday around 6:30am in the Tibondzeni area after a resident reported seeing him approaching his homestead.
According to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the community member immediately alerted the Jericho Police Post, prompting officers and residents to mobilise and move in on the suspect’s location. Police say Hlatshwako was apprehended at his home without resistance and has since been taken into custody.
Hlatshwako had been wanted since 21 May 2025, the day Tifezile, of Siguduma in the Jericho area, was reported kidnapped while walking from a local shop with friends. After several days of intensive searching involving police and community members, her body was found inside the suspect’s homestead in Jericho.
The case triggered a high-level security response. The National Commissioner of Police (NATCOM), Vusi Manoma Masango, joined the search efforts on the ground and condemned the murder. In addition, Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze deployed soldiers to Jericho to support the intensified search for the suspect as the manhunt escalated.
In a statement, REPS commended the community’s swift action, saying the arrest demonstrated effective cooperation between police and residents. “Crime fighting requires partnership. The vigilance shown by the Tibondzeni community contributed directly to this arrest,” the statement noted.
Police have confirmed that due legal processes are underway, and investigations into the murder continue.The incident has drawn widespread public attention due to the nature of the crime and the extensive search that preceded the arrest.
(Courtesy Pic)
