Makhado police have apprehended and arrested a suspect, believed to be responsible for the cold-blooded shooting of Levubu businesswoman Mrs Ria Pretorius.

Information released by the police confirms that the 44-year-old Mrs Pretorius was robbed of R75 000, before being shot several times by unknown attackers on January 2. The shooting took place about 2km outside of town on the Thohoyandou Road.

The suspect, Pophi Mudau (36), is the son of a well known businessman in Tshakhuma. He was arrested by members of the police on Thursday, January 18, following another armed robbery.

According to supt. Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, police spokesperson for the Vhembe area, the suspect was arrested after an armed robbery in Tshikuwi last Tuesday. Mushavhanamadi said that Mudau was travelling along the road when he encountered an Indian businessman whose vehicle broke down. Mudau allegedly pretended to provide assistance to the man, but instead the businessman was robbed of R20 000 in cash.

Police arrived on the scene and, as if by miracle, found one of the vehicle registration plates belonging to Mudau’s vehicle, which had fallen off.

Mushavhanamadi said Mudau was traced via the information recovered from the registration plate and was later arrested at Tshakhuma. According to the police, further investigation linked Mudau to the cold-blooded murder of Mrs Pretorius on Tuesday, January 2. The police also confirmed that Mudau’s younger brothers and 59-year-old sister were arrested on a charge of possessing illegal firearms.

Mudau appeared in the Makhado (Louis Trichardt) magistrate’s court on Monday. His case was postponed until Tuesday, January 30. At the time of going to press, Mudau’s brothers and sister still had to appear in court.