A woman accused of having an affair with long-distance athlete Zola Budd-Pieterse’s ex-husband was arrested after an attempted suicide drama in Bloemfontein, the Witness newspaper reported on Monday.
Its website said Pinkie Pelser — the alleged mistress — fired a gun while threatening to shoot anyone entering the premises of the house she rents from Mike Pieterse.
A cousin of Pelser’s had stolen the gun from Pieterse and was also arrested.
The police’s task force, negotiators and emergency services were deployed to the house on Saturday afternoon.
When the media arrived, she had apparently already fired a shot to ascertain if the firearm was working. Pieterse and other friends were at the house.
Negotiators were unable to get close, because Pelser apparently threatened to shoot anyone entering the premises.
Pelser fired another shot when another friend, identified as Lana, ran towards the house after 7.40pm.
When the task force moved closer at about 10pm and surrounded the house, Pelser apparently climbed over three hedges in an attempt to flee.
Another friend, a former policeman, removed the firearm when she tried to escape over a hedge. She was then arrested and taken to hospital.
Police said Pelser was arrested for firing a firearm in a municipal area and illegally being in possession of a firearm and ammunition in a municipal area. She is expected to appear in a court in Bloemfontein on Monday.
Pieterse has denied having an affair with Pelser, saying she is just a long-time friend who is renting a house from him.
Pelser has also denied a relationship, saying: ”We don’t even visit one another”. – Sapa