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After an intensive nearly two-month manhunt, fugitive Prince Gift Mdluli, implicated in the execution-style murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius, was apprehended on Saturday morning in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.
Lieutenant Colonel Pretorius, 59, who led the Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, was tragically gunned down on January 16. The incident sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community, prompting an immediate and extensive investigation. Within 12 hours of the murder, five suspects were arrested: former police officer Mthobisi Nkosi (40), Aubrey Xaba (35), Skhumbuzo Skhakhane (40), Nyiko Mujovo (30), and Valencia Skhosana. However, Mdluli remained at large, evading capture and becoming one of South Africa’s most wanted fugitives.
The breakthrough came when vigilant community members in Komatipoort provided a tip-off regarding Mdluli’s whereabouts. Acting swiftly, local detectives and visible policing units located and arrested Mdluli in a clothing shop around 8:00 AM. At the time of his arrest, he was found wearing dirty and worn-out clothes, indicating a period of hardship while on the run.
Major General Nico Gerber, Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, and Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi lauded the collaborative efforts leading to Mdluli’s capture. They emphasized the crucial role played by the community, private security sectors, and various stakeholders in supporting law enforcement agencies. Gerber remarked, “I appreciate the community involvement as this is a clear indication that communities are standing behind law enforcement and are themselves tired of criminality.”
With Mdluli’s arrest, attention now turns to the judicial proceedings. He is set to join his five co-accused, who are currently in custody. Four of the suspects abandoned their bail applications on February 18 and are scheduled to reappear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on April 10. The fifth suspect, Skhosana, is continuing with her bail application, with the next hearing slated for March 12.
The successful apprehension of Mdluli underscores the effectiveness of community-police collaboration and the relentless pursuit of justice by South African law enforcement agencies. As the legal process unfolds, the nation watches closely, hopeful that justice will be served for Lieutenant Colonel Pretorius and his family.
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