The controversial businessman from Madombidza, Mr. Prince Mulalo Ludere, died last week after a short illness.

Ludere recently made headlines when police wanted to question him on single counts of rape and attempted murder that were brought against him by a local woman. These cases were later withdrawn against him.

The 40-year-old Ludere, according to his lawyer, Mr Desmond Mphaphuli, passed away in the Polokwane Provincial Hospital on Monday (10/10). At the time of his death, Ludere was awaiting trial with his co-accused on a charge of the illegal possession of a firearm in the Louis Trichardt Regional Court.

He was charged along with Tsepo Moepi (39) of Seshego, Alfred Nkuna (40) of Mamelodi, Lesetja Reuben Moloto (39) of Polokwane, Christopher Maleka of Polokwane and Jeffrey Nnkwamato Maphala (45) also of Mamelodi.

At the time of going to press, it was still not clear whether the State will close its case against the remaining five. Their appearance follows Moepi and Nkuna’s arrest in December last year. They were arrested after local police received a tip-off regarding an alleged planned robbery. This led to the pair’s arrest near Eltivillas on December 28 last year. When the police searched the vehicle they were driving, they found two unlicensed 9mm pistols. Moepi and Nkuna implicated their co-accused, who was subsequently arrested.

This was not Ludere’s first appearance in court. A couple of years ago he was released on medical parole, following a previous conviction.

Ludere was also implicated as a suspect in the daring daytime armed robbery at Khoja’s Modern Store in 2005. Charges against him in this case were also withdrawn later , due to a lack of evidence. During the robbery, Mr Yogendra Baboo Ghelani (60) was brutally gunned down and his 84-year old father, Mr Baboo Mohanial Ghelani, was wounded.