Soccer star and known “bad boy” Jabu Mahlangu (Pule) is on the wrong side of the law again - this time for being in possession of a stolen car.
Mahlangu, musician Oscar “Madluphuthu” Mgudlwa, and two others were arrested on Friday night following a chase on the M1 highway.
Vehicle-tracking company Netstar had traced a signal for a stolen car and chased it.
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Tshisikhawe Ndou said: “It is alleged the vehicle-recovery company picked up a signal for a VW Jetta 5 stolen during a house breaking and theft incident in Springs last month.
“During the chase, the vehicle-recovery company lost the stolen vehicle. The Johannesburg flying squad spotted the same car along the M1 highway and pulled it over.”
No shots were fired during the chase. The four were arrested.
They will appear at the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.
Mahlangu, no stranger to controversy, has become well known for his disappearing acts before major soccer matches and numerous stints in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres.
Also known as “Ngwana wa Tshwenya” - meaning “troublesome child”, the former Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates midfielder was reportedly looking forward to his “comeback” in the next football season.
Kickoff magazine quoted his brother as saying: “His former team in Sweden has shown interest in him, but he is ready to consider local offers.”
Other incidents involving Mahlangu: 2002 - He missed the Nations Cup qualifier while playing for Bafana Bafana after he went missing without explanation and then missed a chance to play in the African Nations Cup.
2003 - Mahlangu went awol before a game against Sundowns, crashed his car and was accused of abducting a Soweto girl, 16. He was suspended by Chiefs for six weeks.
2004 - He missed an Absa Cup game between his team, Chiefs, and Sundowns without explanation.
2005 - He was dismissed by his Austrian club SV Mattersburg after he was involved in two drunk-driving incidents.
2006 - He was called to a disciplinary hearing with four fellow Orlando Pirates teammates after they left camp without permission.
2007 - Mahlangu faced allegations of kidnapping and rape of a Pretoria woman, 19, after a Soweto derby.
2009 - He went awol from a Platinum Stars training session and missed the Nedbank Cup against Golden Arrows. - Pretoria News