A group of journalists stood waiting outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday where a 47-year-old woman who allegedly conspired to kill Blue Bulls rugby player Deon Helberg will be appearing.
The case was delayed and the Manda Reyneke was expected to appear at about 11am.
In a story reported in the Beeld on Friday, Reyneke allegedly hired two Nigerian men to murder Helberg with whom she allegedly had an affair with, while he was her daughter’s boyfriend.
Beeld reported that the two men worked with the police to catch the doctor’s wife.
The men also showed Reyneke a photograph of Helberg, who appeared lying dead with his T-shirt stained by fake blood, as proof that she should pay them.
Reyneke was arrested on Thursday at the Atterbury Value Mart in Pretoria shortly after she handed over R10Â 000 to the hitmen as partial payment.
The Hawks’ lieutenant colonel Leonie Verster told Beeld one of the Nigerians had approached the police with information regarding the planned murder.
Love triangle
Reyneke allegedly wanted to kill Helberg after falling in love with him while he was dating her daughter, Jalien. He also lived with the family for a period of time, during which he allegedly had a relationship with Reyneke.
After Helberg broke off the relationship with Jalien, Reyneke allegedly started sending him death threats via SMS.
About two months ago, Reyneke met the Nigerians — who have not been identified — in a night club and allegedly hired them for a hit. She promised payment to each of them with a house and R10Â 000 per month over 12 months after his death.
One of the hitmen told Beeld they had been unwilling to carry out the murder and had badgered Reyneke to supply them with Helberg’s phone number. When she finally gave in, they called Helberg and informed him of the planned hit.
After her arrest, Reyneke was still under the impression that Helberg was dead but heard from police in Silverton that he was still alive. — Sapa