Lowveld community in shock over double murder on Christmas Day

During the early hours of December 25, a double murder took place in Steiltes.

The victims were Shawn Pretorius, a businessman, PostNet owner and father of two sons, and Ilonka Craucamp, a beauty therapist, businesswoman and mother of two daughters.

Video footage shows three men walking down Enterprise Street at 01:17 on Christmas Day. When the three men noticed the camera, they took cover behind a wall. 

It seems that one of them then made a phone call, whereafter they walked towards Laser Street.

At about 01:49 a resident of Laser Street alerted the Steiltes Whatsapp security group that three men were attempting to gain access to a house in Enterprise Street.

The three suspects then moved towards Laser Street. At 02:15 a second resident sent a message on the group: “Gunshots in Laser”.

Two security companies advised that they were on their way to inspect the situation, and then reacted with: “There were suspects in Laser Street. Response patrolled the area and confirmed that all was clear. They couldn’t find the suspects; they fled the scene as soon as response vehicles arrived. Response will show visibility in the area.”

At this stage no clear link can be made between the three men and the murders.

Ilonka’s husband, Jaco, said that at 15:00 his children became concerned when they had not received a message or phone call from their mother.

He said that “Ilonka loved her children very much and she would not fail to contact them on a special day like Christmas”.

He became concerned and decided to contact Shawn’s wife, Melane.

Melane confirmed that her children had also not heard from their father. Jaco then advised her that she should use the location finder on Shawn’s bakkie to confirm its location.

She confirmed that the bakkie was parked at the house in Laser Street. She asked a neighbour to confirm if Shawn and Ilonka were indeed at the house. He advised that a light outside was burning.

Melane then contacted Hi-Tech Nelspruit.

The executive director of Hi-Tech Nelspruit, Frank Swanepoel, said that they received a telephone call and were asked to attend to the house in Laser Street and confirm if there were any vehicles at the house. They confirmed that there was a Toyota bakkie in the driveway.

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A second telephone call was received by Hi-Tech at 21:00, in which the family member asked them to return to the premises in order to investigate. The response officer said that upon inspection, they saw two bodies on the floor of the living room and immediately called the police.

The bodies of Ilonka and Shawn were found on the living-room floor. The police seized a 9mm pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition.

Both Shawn and Ilonka were in the process of divorcing their spouses, Melane and Jaco.

The two couples lived in Hoedspruit and were previously good friends.

Jaco confirmed that he and Ilonka divorced 12 years ago when she and Shawn had an affair.

He said that “she came back two years later, and we remarried in 2017”.

Recently the relationship between Ilonka and Shawn reignited. Jaco ensured that Ilonka had everything she needed in her home and helped her move. Jaco said that they had no resentment or anger towards each other.

On December 27, Albert Greyvenstein of Bossies Community Justice and AG Solutions received a mandate from Jaco and Melane. Greyvenstein is now investigating the murders.

Greyvenstein’s investigation determined that Ilonka and Shawn slept in the “Christmas bed” they made in the living room.

“I believe that Shawn heard the suspects in the house and decided to investigate. Due to small blood spatter, I am of the opinion that the first shot was fired in the corridor. Shawn made his way towards the living room, as hand marks are visible on the wall next to the television. Thereafter, more shots were fired at Shawn and he collapsed next to the television. Ilonka, who were lying on the bed, was then shot. Both were shot with a 9mm pistol,” said Greyvenstein.

If any resident of Steiltes have any information or video footage captured by security cameras of Christmas Day, or days prior, please contact Callen Herbst of Bossies Community Justice on 082 895 9368.

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