Cannibal Shot by South African Police.

A South African man who slit a woman’s throat has died after being shot by police who caught him in the act of eating her flesh.

Aphiwe Mapekula, 23, abducted 35-year-old Thembisa Masumpa and brought her back to his home in KwaBhaca on September 9, according to local media reports.

His horrified mother saw him slitting the woman’s throat and called police, police captain Edith Mjoko said.

“When (police) arrived the suspect was busy eating the flesh of the deceased,” he said.

“Police 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.”

Mapekula was shot three times, once in the leg, chest and abdomen and died three days later from his injuries, health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo told TimesLive.

“He was admitted to the Nelson Mandela Central Hospital after being transferred from Madzikane KaZuluHospital with gunshot wounds, and needed emergency surgery. He unfortunately died in the early hours  at about 4.35am,” the spokesperson said.

In a statement on her website, local mayor, Bulelwa Mabengu, condemned the “inhumane act” and said drugs may have played a part.

“We have visited the family of the victim […] and wish to plead with the media to provide the family enough space to deal with the matter,” the statement read.

“I also believe that drugs and substance abuse was a major contributing factor and yearn to call upon law authorities to show a more proactive visibility in our area. The municipality will however be having more private consultation sessions with the family of the victim.”