Dunoon puppy seller rearrested after escaping from police custody

The man known as the “Dunoon puppy seller”, Ncubeko Hloni, is back in custody after a brazen escape from Sea Point police station sparked outrage and raised fresh questions about police procedures.

Hloni was arrested on Saturday, 29 November, after members of the public spotted him on Main Road in Green Point carrying a lethargic, visibly unwell puppy. When he tried to flee, a bystander tackled him before Green Point CID officers intervened.

A second puppy was later found zipped inside his backpack with no ventilation. Both animals were rushed to a private veterinarian and are now safe in the care of the SPCA.

But hours later, Hloni slipped out of the station.

After being escorted to the bathroom at Sea Point SAPS, he was left alone. The bathroom window had no burglar bars. Hloni climbed out and disappeared.

Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse condemned the circumstances of the escape.

“I am deeply disappointed and frankly stunned by the sheer carelessness displayed by SAPS in this incident,” he said. “How does one leave a suspect alone in a bathroom with no burglar bars? What if this was a murderer? We have been informed that this is the second escape from the same station in the past week — it is completely unacceptable.”

SAPS confirmed both the escape and the rearrest by yesterday afternoon.

“The 21-year-old escapee was re-arrested in Du-Noon, today, 01 December 2025,” said SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg. “He will appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ court on Wednesday, December 3 2025.”

Sea Point police earlier confirmed an internal investigation. “Sea Point police registered an escape from lawful custody case following the escape of a 30 year old suspect on Saturday, 2025-11-29 at 21:20 at Sea Point SAPS,” said police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk. “The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. Police are following up all leads in a bid to re-arrest the suspect.”

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA confirmed his rearrest.

Hloni is no stranger to evading authorities. He previously vanished while out on bail in a Table View animal-cruelty case. In 2024 he outran Law Enforcement in a sting operation. And in 2023, SPCA teams spent weeks trying to catch him as he repeatedly changed clothes to avoid identification.

One of the most disturbing incidents linked to him involved a rabbit tied by the neck and swung into the air on Malibongwe Drive during rush hour — an act that triggered national outrage.

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Cape Argus