The search for, Johan Kotze, the man suspected of murdering a University of Pretoria student and allegedly orchestrating the gang-rape and mutilation of the boy’s mother, his estranged wife, has widened and Interpol is now involved.
A nationwide search, which has now been extended to southern Africa, was launched following last Tuesday’s horrific attack in the Limpopo town of Modimolle.
Police on Sunday confirmed that Interpol had been roped in to help, and was assisting them with their investigation into locating Kotze, who carries Namibian and South African passports.
The estranged wife has indicated that she did not want herself or those close to her identified, but that she did not mind if Kotze was named if it could lead to his arrest.
It is believed that Kotze, who is from Gobabis in eastern Namibia, still has strong family ties to that country as well as potential business ties to Botswana and several other southern African countries. He worked previously as a sheriff in the Northern Cape and was a sheep farmer in the Free State.
It is understood he had been in contact with family members and friends for help in hiding from police, although some friends have distanced themselves from him.
A former farming friend from Bloemfontein said he could not bring himself to think about what had happened.
“Whatever friendship we had is over,” he said referring to the “bad things” Kotze is accused of doing.
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My door is definitely shut to him and I know a larger number of farmers in the area who know him are the same.”
A source outside the police said the suspect had been in contact with at least one person from Modimolle, apparently seeking financial help. But he had been denied, with the threat of going to the police.
Investigating officer Lieutenant-Colonel Malisela Mohale said they were following up on positive information. Confirming Interpol’s involvement, he said the agency became involved last Wednesday.
“While we strongly believe that he is still in the country, we cannot rule out the possibility that he may have skipped the country,” he said.
Police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said a task team was following good leads and hoped for a breakthrough soon.
“It is just a matter of time before we catch him. (He) cannot remain on the run forever,” he said.
The woman who was raped and assaulted is being treated at a Pretoria hospital, where a friend said she was doing well under the circumstances.
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It is difficult. She is seeing a psychologist who will be helping her to deal with this trauma,” the friend said.
The attack allegedly occurred when the woman was lured by Kotze, to his rented home to discuss their divorce.
Once there, three men Kotze had hired were allegedly forced by him to rape the woman, tie her to a bed, and mutilate her genitalia using common tools.
He is also believed to have driven nails into her chest. A stepdaughter who was also threatened, was taken to a place of safety.
Police are calling for the men who were apparently hired to commit the crime to come forward.
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