BREAKING NEWS: Hawks arrest the South Coast’s ‘wanted cannibal’ | South Coast Herald

A post warning people on the South Coast to be aware of a cannibal on the loose in Gamalakhe was circulated wildly on various social media platforms this week.

The post claimed the ‘cannibal’ had  raped and eaten a few people in Gamalakhe, with his next target  probably Margate.

Those who may have had sleepless nights over this can rest easy.

Firstly, the post was fake, and secondly, the wanted man – Prince Gift Mdluli – has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a high profile murder case.

He was tracked down and arrested today (March 8) in a clothing store in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.

The arrest came after Komatipoort detectives and visible policing received a tip-off about Mdluli’s whereabouts.

Mdluli has been on the run since January 16 after Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59) was gunned down, execution style, in Ermelo.

Pretorius was the unit commander of the Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit.

Five suspects linked to the murder, a former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40), Aubrey Xaba (35), Skhumbuzo Skhakhane (40) Nyiko Mujovo (30) and Valencia Skhosana were arrested in less than 12 hours by the Hawks Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Nelspruit.

However, Mdluli remained on the run.

At the time of his arrest, Mdluli was wearing dirty, worn-out clothes.

Police received a tip-off from community members at about 08:00, and wasted no time attending to the call.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said Mdluli will join his five co-accused, who are still in custody. Four of the five accused abandoned their bail application in Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on February 18 and are scheduled to reappear on April 10.

The fifth suspect, Skhosana, proceeded with her bail application but was also remanded in custody after appearing twice on February 18 and 27. She will proceed with her bail application on March 12.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, thanked the community, private security industry, and external stakeholders who responded so positively in the search. Several sightings were reported, and all leads followed up.

Members of the Hawks, crime intelligence, tactical teams, and other divisions responded to and worked tirelessly to trace Mdluli.

All these efforts resulted in the suspect being arrested.

“I appreciate the involvement as this is a clear indication that communities are standing behind law enforcement and are themselves tired of criminality,” added the general. He applauded the commitment of his members, who left no stone unturned. “A job well done,” he concluded.

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