A Mpumalanga primary school security guard was murdered during an armed robbery at the institution on Friday.

Visitors to the school found Mgwenya's body inside his vehicle parked in the school yard.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said three women arrived at the school and called out for Mgwenya to open the gate for them and he did not respond.

"Police and medical personnel were summoned to the scene where Mgwenya was unfortunately certified dead," said Hlathi.

"The investigation has further highlighted that this incident was an orchestrated robbery and it is clear that the suspects were armed and were targeting certain items at the school.