Hugs as ‘cougar’ gets bail

Manda Reyneke’s daughter tenderly hugged her after the woman accused of plotting to kill a Blue Bulls player was released on bail of R5 000 on Monday.

Jalien picked her mother up at the Pretoria Regional Court. There was no indication of bad blood between the two, although it is alleged Reyneke had a relationship with Blue Bulls and SA Rugby Sevens player Deon Helberg while he was dating Jalien two years ago.

The well-groomed woman, 47, kept her poise in the courtroom, even when evidence was led that she visited a sangoma. But her fidgeting hands belied the calm exterior. Reyneke was arrested last week after two Nigerians she allegedly recruited to kill Helberg spilled the beans.

The charge sheet states she conspired to commit assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and/or murder.

An alternative charge read that she enticed/ordered a person(s) to commit a crime.

Warrant officer Buks van Staden testified that Reyneke met the Nigerians at a pub in Garsfontein, asking them to kill Helberg. She offered them R120 000 and a house each.

“There were a lot of SMSes and cellphone communication. When the accused told them she had found someone else in Centurion (to carry out the hit) as they were not delivering, the Nigerians became scared as it appeared she was serious. They then went to the police,” he said.

Police staged a scene with a bloodied Helberg lying in front of a gate. The picture was sent to Reyneke from the Nigerians’ cellphone as “proof”.

Reyneke allegedly merely responded: “See you tomorrow.”

She was arrested after she paid the men the next day.

Van Staden said the negotiations between Reyneke and the Nigerians started in September. He suspected the Nigerians prolonged the matter to get more money out of Reyneke.

“There were several (monetary) transfers made to them,” he said.

Referring to her mental condition, Van Staden said she showed no abnormal behaviour since her arrest. “I think this was a love triangle that went sour and they wanted to hurt each other.

“I believe if the accused is treated at an institution, we will get more clarity on what happened.”

Van Staden said Reyneke’s mental health was questioned when they saw some of the SMSes she had allegedly sent to the Nigerians.

It included Afrikaans and Dutch riddles the two “hired guns” did not understand.

“It is also not common for a white woman to see a sangoma,” Van Staden said. The SMSes referred to voodoo spells, a shaman advising Reyneke to wash her car with chicken blood and the throwing of dolos (bones), he said.

Van Staden did not regard Reyneke as a flight risk, but he was concerned about Helberg’s safety.

Whether the accused was in jail or in the Cape, it would be possible to organise Helberg’s death, he said.

During cross-examination defence lawyer Jacques Beetge said Reyneke did not show suicidal tendencies and had shared a lot of information with the police.

“These SMSes are just a drop in the ocean. We will only later know in what context they were sent. There might be an acceptable explanation for it?” Beetge asked.

Reyneke took responsibility for what she had done, he said. Her family, including her husband and daughters, were supporting her. The alleged target, Helberg, and his mother, had seen Reyneke after her arrest and she did not act aggressively, he said.

Van Staden agreed.

Reyneke’s affidavit stated that her one daughter was a university student, while the other, 17, stayed with her in Silver Lakes. She was co-owner of this property and worked from home as a bookkeeper.

She has no pending cases or previous convictions.

State prosecutor Minette Wilsenach argued that Reyneke’s continuous attempts to have Helberg killed were indicative of her determination.

“It is concerning that, when the Nigerians did not do it, she found someone else,” Wilsenach said.

Beetge said the media coverage of the case had made Reyneke realise the gravity of the situation. “If she makes one misstep, she will be in the spotlight of the press,” he said.

Magistrate Edmund Patterson said the alleged crime was clearly emotionally driven, taking into account that Reyneke was willing to undergo therapy.

He granted her bail on condition she reports to a mental institute within 24 hours.

Reyneke may not be discharged without the doctor’s consent or without the investigating officer being notified. She may not leave South Africa, and can only leave Gauteng with Van Staden’s permission. Neither is she allowed any contact with Helberg, his family or the Nigerians. The case was postponed to January. - Pretoria News