The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Nico Gerber is pleased with the progress made in cracking down on further suspects involved in the brutal murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius in Ermelo, on 16 January 2025.
Four more accused, three males and a female, were arrested in Ermelo on Friday, 14 March 2025. Vusi Shabalala (43), Njabulo Zwane (26), Percy Siyabonga Duba (30), and Phetheni Samaria Duba (37) were arrested for conspiracy to commit murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice. Their arrest brings the total number of accused in the matter to ten (10).
Their arrest follows that of fugitive Prince Gift Mdluli, who was arrested in Komatipoort on Saturday, 08 March 2025.
Mdluli appeared in court on Monday, 10 March 2025 and his matter was postponed to 10 April 2025 where he will join his other co-accused, Mthobisi Nkosi (40), Aubrey Xaba (35), Skhumbuzo Skhakhane (40) and Nyiko Mujovo (30) who abandoned their bail application, whilst Valencia Skhosana (35) proceeds with her bail application.
The four suspects appeared before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 17 March 2025. The case was postponed to 20 March 2025 for legal representative.
