The acting Mpumalanga police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, has called on the public to avoid spreading misinformation and disinformation about the SAPS on social media.

“We call on the public to verify information before sharing it on social media platforms to avoid spreading false narratives that could harm the police’s reputation. We are also appreciative to all the community members who are continually coming up with valuable information to assist us in our endeavours to ensure safety for all,” Mkhwanazi said.

This comes after the Mpumalanga SAPS warned the community against the misrepresentation of police intervention in solving crimes in Matsulu.

In a press statement released on March 26, a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said a social media video has misrepresented the current situation in Matsulu by portraying the policing precinct as a continuous breeding ground of crime.

“The SAPS would like to set the record straight regarding the recent circulation of a video on various social media platforms, depicting Matsulu as a high crime zone where people are murdered without any intervention from the police.

“While it is acknowledged that there was a tragic incident that occurred on April 2, 2024, when a 40-year-old woman [Dorris Alina Sibiya] and her daughter [Noxolo Simile Khoza] were brutally murdered. It should be equally reported that in this isolated incident the police made a breakthrough and arrested the perpetrator, Thulani Foshini ‘Mathousand’ Sikhundla in Barberton just six days later,” Mdhluli said.

Sikhundla was subsequently convicted and sentenced.

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On April 2 last year, Sikhundla had attacked Khoza in her bedroom and then proceeded to stab Sibiya multiple times. Sibiya’s teenage son intervened when he heard their screams. He managed to escape unharmed, despite also being attacked by Sikhundla, who fled the scene and went into hiding. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.

“The manner in which the double murder was handled shows that the police took swift action to bring the perpetrator to justice. We continue to urge members of the public to participate in community engagements and events aimed at addressing crime-related issues and collaborating with law enforcement agencies.”

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Mdhluli said a feedback session was recently held in Matsulu to provide a progress report on a ministerial community engagement on crime and to address concerns raised during previous meetings. He said collaboration with other stakeholders has been instrumental in improving policing in the area.