Fugitive Prince Gift Mdluli who was wanted for the execution of unit commander of Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius, has been arrested.
Image: SAPS
Police in Mpumalanga have arrested fugitive Prince Gift Mdluli, who was wanted as the sixth suspect in connection with the brutal murder of Unit Commander of Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius, 59.
Last month, IOL reported that the net had been widened in pursuit of the fugitive Mdluli.
On Saturday, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, said Mdluli was arrested in Komatipoort.
“Mdluli has been on the run since 16 January 2025 after the Unit Commander of Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59) was gunned down, execution-style in Ermelo,” said Nkosi.
“Five suspects linked to the murder, 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 (after the murder) by the Hawks Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Nelspruit.”
Five people, including an ex-police officer, have appeared in court for the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (inset)
Image: Supplied
Mdluli was arrested on Saturday in a clothing shop in Komatipoort. During his arrest, police said Mdluli was wearing "dirty and worn-out" clothes.
Police received a tip-off from community members at around 8am regarding Mdluli’s whereabouts and they wasted no time in rushing to the scene.
“Mdluli will join his five co-accused, who are still in custody. Four of the five accused abandoned their bail application in the Ermelo Magistrate's Court on 18 February 2025 and are scheduled to reappear on April 10 2025. The fifth suspect, Skhosana, proceeded with her bail application but was also remanded in custody after appearing twice on 18 and 27 February 2025,” said Nkosi.
Skhosana will proceed with her bail application on Wednesday.
Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius of the Emerlo SAPS Vehicle Identification Unit was gunned down on January 16, 2025.
Image: SAPS
Meanwhile, Mpumalanga provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber and the acting provincial commissioner of SAPS, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi have commended members of Komatipoort detectives and visible policing unit for the “speedy reaction” after receiving the tip-off about Mdluli’s whereabouts.
The police top brass has thanked the community, private security industry, and external stakeholders who responded positively in the wide search of the elusive fugitive.
In recent days, several sightings had been reported, and all leads followed up by police.
Gerber remarked that the community’s involvement was key to the arrest.
“I appreciate the community involvement as this is a clear indication that communities are standing behind law enforcement and are themselves tired of criminality," he said.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL
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