These are just some of the bizarre puzzle pieces that form part of a murder investigation that involves a Tzaneen businessman, currently in a critical condition after having been involved in a serious accident near Middelburg.

The events play out like a Hollywood detective story, except that this story’s ending has yet to take place. Cooperation between two sister publications, the Middelburg Observer and the Letaba Herald, played a key role in the police investigation up to this point.

The Limpopo businessman, whose identity is known to both papers but withheld due to legal reasons, is originally from Secunda. A while ago he bought a business in Tzaneen and moved there.

According to sources close to the businessman, he was involved in a gay relationship with Jan Johannes Craemer (28), one of his employees, for quite some time. The businessman however recently decided to try and salvage his relationship with his estranged wife (who lives in Secunda).

Another source alleges that Craemer often tried to interfere in the already fragile relationship between the businessman and his wife. The source further stated that he often tried to borrow large sums of money from the businessman. From what can be gathered from local sources, Craemer left Tzaneen a while ago and moved to the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal.

At the end of November the Tzaneen businessman travelled to Durban. He booked into a self catering hotel and stayed there for two nights.

According to a statement released by KZN Police’s provincial spokesperson, Major Thulani Zwane, the Tzaneen businessman was last seen at 19:30 on 30 November when he walked out of the hotel.

A do not disturb sign was on display on the door to his hotel room. Three days later hotel employees decided to ignore the sign and entered the room. A gruesome find awaited – the body of a man, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

The room was registered in the name of the Tzaneen businessman and authorities initially thought him to be the deceased. However, further investigation brought to light that Craemer was in fact the deceased. Craemer had been reported as missing at the Brighton Beach Police station in Durban on 30 November.

The Tzaneen businessman, was nowhere to be found. What the Durban SAPS did not know at this stage, was that the suspect had been involved in a serious car accident, between Middelburg and Bethal (near Blinkpan), less than 24 hours since he was last seen exiting the hotel. His vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a truck shortly after 19:00 on Tuesday 1 December and he was critically injured in the accident. Amongst his possessions handed in at the Blinkpan Police station, was a firearm.

According to sources in Middelburg, the suspect was then transported to the Midmed Hospital.

When the KZN Police found out about the accident they immediately requested the Middelburg Police to put the suspect under police guard in the hospital. However, Captain Khanyisile Zwane, Middelburg Police spokesperson, confirmed to the Middelburg Observer this week, that local authorities do not have a suspect under police guard in Middelburg.

Helani Nel, Midmed’s communication official, confirmed on Wednesday that there is no patient under the suspect’s name in their care. According to a trusted source with knowledge of the accident, the suspect was transferred to a hospital in Secunda. His condition is was still critical at the time of the transfer.

The Durban Police investigating team requested via e-mail that the suspect’s belongings be booked into the Blinkpan Police station as evidence. The Blinkpan Police station confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect’s belongings (including the firearm) had already been handed over to his estranged wife.

Confidential information the reporters received have it that a investigating officer is on his way to Middelburg from KZN to try and save the investigation. It is still unknown which hospital currently has the suspect in its care. Keep following the Middelburg Observer and Letaba Herald‘s websites for more information on this story as it emerges.