A 45-year-old woman and her 25-year-old daughter have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of retired police officer Celani Motsa, 62, whose killing shocked the Nhlangano community last month.
The two women were arrested by Hlathikhulu police on June 3, 2026, and will appear before the Nhlangano Magistrate’s Court today facing charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
According to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the pair allegedly withheld crucial information relating to the murder and tampered with the crime scene in an attempt to conceal evidence and protect the alleged killer.
Police spokespersons said Motsa was fatally stabbed once in the chest with a sharp object on May 19, 2026, at around 3:30pm in the Hlathikhulu area.
The arrests come two weeks after police apprehended a 43-year-old man from KaGodloza who is accused of carrying out the fatal attack.
The male suspect was arrested on May 21 at around 2am while at his parental homestead. Police allege that he stabbed Motsa once in the chest while inside a house, resulting in his death.
At the time of his arrest, police indicated that investigations were continuing and revealed that a woman was being probed on suspicion of conspiring in the killing.
Following further investigations, detectives allegedly uncovered evidence linking the two women to efforts aimed at frustrating the investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, police said the women were charged after it emerged that they had allegedly interfered with the crime scene and failed to disclose information that could have assisted investigators.
“The two women allegedly withheld crucial information relating to the murder and tampered with the crime scene in an attempt to conceal evidence and protect the male perpetrator,” police said.
Authorities further confirmed that applications would be made in court to have the women’s case joined with that of the 43-year-old murder accused.
The development marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the killing of Motsa, a retired member of the Royal Eswatini Police Service.
Police have not yet disclosed the relationship between the deceased and the accused persons, nor have they revealed the motive behind the killing.
Investigations into the matter are continuing.
The arrests bring the total number of people charged in connection with Motsa’s death to three.
Police have urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement officers and refrain from interfering with crime scenes or withholding information that may assist criminal investigations.
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