ERMELO – Valencia Skhosana (36), one of the five accused of the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59), appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on February 27 to continue her bail application hearing.

Her other four co-accused abandoned their bail on February 18.

Planning the murder

Prosecutor Charles Lloyd presented evidence, including surveillance footage and photos of Pretorius’s vehicle, along with details of the vehicle, outlining the planned execution.

According to evidence presented in court, former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40), described as the main figure behind the plot, began arranging the murder in mid-December 2024.

This came after Pretorius launched an investigation into Nkosi’s alleged criminal activities after he went to the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit to re-register a Hilux bakkie.

Pretorius, the unit commander, assisted him and realised that the Vin was tampered with. He seized the vehicle and began his investigation into its origin.

Pretorius discovered the false Vin used on the bakkie was linked to another vehicle that had been scrapped after being involved in an accident.

After several operations, various vehicles were seized because of the work by the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit and notably, Pretorius.

Nkosi is said to have allegedly hired individuals (his co-accused) to carry out the assassination of Pretorius, with discussions of an R80 000 payment for the job.

One of the suspects, still at large, Prince Mdluli, began following Pretorius. In a voice note translated in court, he stated, “Four persons may not be enough to shoot off his head,” and suggested that at least eight people were needed to execute the plan.

In court it was suggested that Mdluli followed Pretorius in a white Volkswagen Polo in the days before the attack, scouting for an ambush location.

Camera footage also placed Mdluli at Pretorius’ office on January 13, 2025.

The footage captures him exiting the aformentioned Polo and walking toward the office. Photos of Pretorius’ vehicle were sent to Nyiko Mujovo (one of the co-accused).

The state additionally showed images of Mdluli’s vehicle parked near a farm entrance on the Morgenzon Road, they believe that this may have been an alternative execution site.

Further surveillance footage and automatic vehicle location records show that Mdluli also followed Warrant Officer Piet De Beer, who assisted in the initial investigation and seizure of the vehicles.

In a video message to Mujovo, Mdluli recorded the road leading to Pretorius’ office, pointing out that there were moving busses and CCTV cameras in the area.

He also filmed the exact spot where the ambush was to take place.

Days leading to the murder

A few days prior to his murder, Pretorius received calls from a person claiming they have information and that they wanted to meet with him alone at night.

Pretorius also informed Warrant Officer De Beer about the suspicious calls and said he was hesitant and suggested they meet as his office instead.

On January 16, while in Ermelo with his son, Pretorius received another call from someone who wanted to meet him at his office.

He was ambushed at the intersection of Havenga and Dr Nicol streets in the industrial area.

A gunman opened fire with an AK-47 and shot Pretorius several times in his car, before jumping into a white BMW and speeding away.

This car was later found torched next to Ext 7 in Ermelo.

Pretorius was rushed to Ermelo Mediclinic, but he succumbed to his wounds in hospital.

A witness asked Pretorius, “Wie het jou geskiet, wie sit hieragter?” and he responded “Nkosi van Barberton.”

All three vehicles used in the murder were shown to be at the crime scene minutes before the shooting had occurred.

Planning the murder of another police officer

• Shortly after their first appearance on January 20, Nkosi and Mujovo were allegedly involved in planning the murder of the arresting officer, Sergeant Prenesh Maharaj
• They allegedly obtained a cell phone while in custody and made calls to unknown individuals
• Authorities later discovered and seized the cell phone
• Following this incident, Nkosi was transferred to Bethal Prison
• On 12 February 2025, Mujovo is believed to have once again obtained a cell phone and continued allegedly planning the murder of Maharaj

Case postponed

Skhosana will appear in court again on March 12 to continue her bail application.

The other accused, former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40), Aubrey Xaba (35), Skhumbuzo Skhakhane (40), Nyiko Mujovo (30) have abandoned their bail applications and will remain in custody until their trial or further legal proceedings on April 10.

Nkosi, Xaba, Skhakhane, Mujovo and Skhosana are charged with murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice and conspiracy to commit murder in the Pretorius case.

Nkosi and Mujovo were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder against Maharaj.

Read more on Skhosana’s bail application in this week’s Highvelder.