A woman from Secunda in Mpumalanga this week promised a R50 000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of suspects in her husband’s murder.
Lara Botha’s husband, Chris, was shot dead in a pizza restaurant at the Lifestyle Center in town last month. No one has been arrested for the murder yet and the police have not disclosed a motive for the murder at this stage.
According to Lara, Chris, 34, closed his family’s supermarket on May 20 at about 6 p.m., after which he switched to the other family business in the center, Hollow Hog Pizza, to help his sister finish the last chores before would close the restaurant for the evening. Hollow Hog Pizza made deliveries at the time of the murder during the overall nationwide isolation.
A preliminary investigation shows that four suspects rushed into the store with masks, after which they detonated Chris. Two of the restaurant’s employees were hiding in the bathroom while his sister watched as the suspects shot him twice in the head. The suspects did not say a word during the incident and fled after the shots.
Chris was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lara said a bag of Chris as well as her sister-in-law’s handbag were on the counter at the time of the incident. The suspects did not steal it or cash from the cash register. Chris’s cellphone was also not stolen from his pocket.
“Chris was the love of my life. He was really a good person, well known and loved in the community, ”Lara says.
The couple had been married for seven years.
“It is not as if we are going to find relief when someone is arrested, but at least we will get answers for this absolutely senseless murder.”
Information regarding the incident can be obtained from Capt. Leon Kroucamp on 083 324 1829 or ao. Petro Bester is reported on 082 494 8595. All information will be treated as confidential.
