Mandy Wiener
Eyewitness News
Johannesburg - Radovan Krejcir believes that the blast at his Money Point business premises earlier this week was meant for him.
“I believe I’m under attack, because so far there is already two attempts to murder me,” Krejcir said on Thursday night, speaking for the first time since Tuesday’s blast.
“I lost two of my closest friends and I’m very sad about it,” he said, adding that he was in mourning and that it had been a difficult few days for him.
The Czech, who is fighting extradition to his home country, has broken his silence following a string of crimes over the last few weeks during which his associates were killed.
In the latest incident, two of his close friends - a business associate and Money Point director, South African Ronny Bvuma (Ronny Smith), and Czech fugitive Jan “John” Charvat - were killed.
Krejcir assumes this week’s Bedfordview blast was aimed at killing him. It follows another attempt on his life earlier this year, when a car rigged with guns, operated remotely, fired on him at the same premises. He escaped unhurt.
While Krejcir described the earlier attempt as something out of a James Bond movie, he is not making light-hearted jokes about Tuesday’s blast.
“This week is even worse. We are not talking now about any hit on the person. We’re talking about (a) serious terrorist attack… They don’t care if there are 20 people or kids there. They will blow all these people up, so we’re talking a different level. We’re talking about al-Qaeda style, about terrorism.”
He said it is “disgusting” to suggest that he staged either of the attacks to assist with his refugee bid. But he won’t speculate about who he believes is behind the attack.
“I’m co-operating with police. They ask me and I don’t want to speculate. I really don’t know. I was trying to think about it, but I really don’t know. I do not know if there is some common thread between the deaths of my friends and the attempts on my own life.
“I am as puzzled as the public should be about these deaths. I am not even certain if there is actually any connection between any of these incidents.”
The Czech denied any involvement in any of the “underworld” killings.
In a prepared statement, Krejcir said: “I want to categorically state that I have had no involvement in any of the killings (of the 12 murders of people with links to him) that the media have been so freely speculating about.
“I am sure that if there were any evidence of my involvement, the South African police would have found such evidence by investigation.”
Krejcir said South Africans needed a bogeyman and they found that in him. “I will be happy if somebody (takes) my place.”
Responding to Bedfordview residents’ safety concerns and the signing of a petition to have him kicked out of the suburb, Krejcir said: “I have no reason to change my place because I have done nothing wrong. The reaction of the people is from speculation and from what the media serve to them.
“My suburb Bedfordview is very close to my heart… South Africa is the best country in the world to live in.”
He said there is no reason for him to be feared. “Of course not, I am every day in public. I don’t know why they should fear me. Do I look like evil? I’ve done nothing wrong in my life.”
The father-of-two would not speak about the ongoing extradition application that has been brought by the Czech Republic, nor about his application for refugee status. However, he was “hopeful” that he would be allowed to stay.
“My mother is very worried. My mother would love to move here to this country. Obviously she’s not happy. She doesn’t want me to go home. She knows if I go home I will be killed for political reasons,” said Krejcir.
But he admits that if whoever is after him really wants him dead, they will succeed.
Despite the attempts on his life, Krejcir will not increase his security.
“I don’t believe for (sic) security. Look they kill Kennedy, so if these people want to kill me I will be dead.”
The Star