NELSPRUIT – An intensive investigation into the brutal Grootvlei shooting incident that claimed the lives of off-duty Sergeant Tshepo Mokoena and civilian, Frans Tsotetsi on 17 September 2025, has achieved a breakthrough, with four suspects being arrested for murder this week.
Three victims also narrowly escaped with their lives during the incident.
A multidisciplinary, intelligence-driven operation conducted between 03 and 06 October 2025 led to the successful tracing and arrest of the four suspects in Orange Farm, Gauteng.
The operation involved members from Grootvlei Visible Policing, Detectives, and Crime Intelligence Units, the Balfour Crime Prevention Unit, the Secunda Crime Intelligence Unit, and the National Intervention Unit (NIU).
During the operation, police recovered a white Toyota vehicle believed to have been used in the commission of the shootings. All the arrested individuals are males and are aged between 19 and 32.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the collaborative efforts of all the operational teams from both Mpumalanga and National Head Office.
“This success demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of heinous crimes face the full might of the law. The cooperation between provinces and specialised units is a powerful reminder that the long arm of the law will always reach offenders, no matter where they hide,” said Major General Mkhwanazi.
All four suspects have been charged with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. They are expected to appear in the Balfour Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 08 October 2025.