Well-known South African actor and businessman Joe Ragwala (35) of Hamangilasi outside Vuwani is still counting his loses. This is after his luxurious Mazda 3 latest model, valued at R167 000, was recently burnt to ashes.

Ragwala, who is Ntshavheni in the popular SABC Tshivenda soapie Muvhango, said he was asleep with his girlfriend in the early hours of last Saturday morning at about 1:00 when the incident happened.

Ragwala said he heard some noise outside and when he looked through the window he saw one of the cars in flames. He said his business partner, Dorries Mthembi, saw and recognized the suspect who was trying to burn the second car, but the person fled after noticing that he had been recognized. According to Ragwala, he was assisted by neighbours who extinguished the fire before it could spread to the whole house. Rag-wala said he recognized the man as a garden boy who once worked for him.

“This is a hit and it is everybody’s guess who is behind this. It is just luck that I did not even drink that night as we would have burnt in the house, because the suspect had poured petrol even at the door,” he said. He said the person behind the incident was jealous and he would never succeed in destroying him. “I have given a full statement to the police and I think they will get to the bottom of this and arrest the mastermind behind the whole thing,” he said.

Ragwala said he traced the man the following day and found him at Thohoyandou Taxi rank and made a citizen’s arrest before handing him over to the police.

The 24-year-old Mmbangiseni Magogodela of Ha Mangilasi outside Vuwani was arrested in connection with the case. He appeared in court on June 15, and his case was postponed to July 14. He remains in custody.

Ragwala was in the news recently when a well known Limpopo businessman accused him of sending threatening SMSes. The matter is still in court, while Ragwala is out on a bail of R5000.

Insp Elijah Malatjie of the Vuwani police confirmed the arrest and the subsequent court appearance. He said the case was at a delicate stage, but investigations were continuing.