Port Elizabeth - An Eastern Cape man accused of killing and eating the flesh of a woman in Mount Frere has died.
Provincial health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo confirmed the death of 23-year-old Aphiwe Mapekula who died in hospital at around 4:35 am on Tuesday.
Kupelo said that Mapekula died at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital where he was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Mapekula was admitted to hospital on Saturday after he was shot by police who were trying to apprehend him. He had sustained gunshot wounds to his stomach.
At about 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon, Mapekula allegedly “took a girl by force” from the main street in the Mount Frere CBD to his home “near the Engen garage”, Captain Edith Mjoko said at the time.
Mjoko said that Mapekula allegedly killed Thembisa Masumpa, 35, by cutting her head off with a knife. “When the mother of the suspect saw what was happening she rushed and called the police to the scene. When they arrived, the suspect was busy eating the flesh of the deceased.
“Police members ordered him to stop and to hand himself over. He went berserk and stormed at them with the knife. Several warning shots were fired to deter him but in vain.”