Man publicly bemoans SA’s crime crisis before being arrested for murder
A man wrote a heartfelt letter to Ramaphosa about crime in South Africa, before being accused of killing his partner.
Crime scene tape
CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit speaks with independent researcher, writer and analyst Bianca Van Wyk.
Listen below:
A 57-year-old man, Mauritz Rheeder, wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 2 June after his partner was assaulted and left for dead.
He says South Africa is a place where ‘evil walks freely and justice crawls,’ and claims he considered leaving the country to feel safe.
His words resonated with many victims of crime in the country.
Except, Rheeder is allegedly not a victim, but a perpetrator trying to cover his tracks.
On Monday, 9 June, Rheeder was charged with the murder of his partner, 50-year-old Riana Nel.
Nel reportedly visited Rheeder at the car dealership he operates in Mthatha on 31 May 2025, where an argument broke out.
He allegedly assaulted her at work but only took her to the hospital a day later, claiming she had been attacked by ‘unknown thugs.’
“They started treating her for her injuries, but she was seriously assaulted.”
- Bianca Van Wyk, independent researcher
RELATED: 7 women murdered every day in South Africa – National Femicide Study
He visited her in the hospital on Friday, 6 June, bringing food with him. Shortly after she ate the food, she fell ill and died. Rheeder was arrested that evening.
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