CANNIBAL SHOT WHILE EATING FRESH CORPSE

A CANNIBAL was shot dead by cops as he refused to stop EATING a woman he had murdered.

Aphiwe Mapekula, 23, died in a hail of bullets when police officers tried to arrest him at his home.

He is said to have ignored several warning shots as he continued to feast upon his the raw flesh of victim, Thembisa Masumpa.

Mapekula slit the 35-year-old’s throat and hacked off her head in Mount Frere, South Africa.

His horrified mum called cops after she saw the gruesome slaughter.

Officers said he was tucking in to Thembisa when they arrived.

Mapekula’s mother said: “I never raised a son like this one. I never imagined this.”

Neighbours revealed Thembisa did odd jobs at Mapekula’s home and was washing in the yard when he attacked her.

Police captain Edith Mjoko said: “He killed her with a knife by cutting her throat.

“When the mum of the suspect saw what was happening she rushed and called the police.

“When they arrived the suspect was busy eating the flesh of the deceased.

“Police ordered him to stop and to hand himself over. Several warning shots were fired to deter him, but in vain.

“I believe that drugs and substance abuse was a contributing factor and call upon law authorities to show a more proactive visibility in our area.”

Mapekula was under police guard when he died at Nelson Mandela Hospital, Mthatha.

Hospital spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “He was transferred with gunshot wounds and needed surgery. But he unfortunately died.” GUNNED DOWN: Aphiwe Mapekula