Pofadder hotel owner's wife (30) arrested for murdering and robbing her husband

 The wife of Pofadder hotelier Leon Brits has been arrested in connection with his murder last year, police said on Monday.

According to police spokesperson Captain Sergio Kock, provincial organised crime detectives and other stakeholders arrested his widow at around 08:45 in Marchand, Kakamas.

It was reported that Brits, 41, owned a hotel in Pofadder and was stabbed to death on 7 October 2020.

His body was allegedly found floating in a swimming pool.

Valuables, including firearms, a cellphone, Kruger Rands, polished diamonds and cash, were allegedly stolen from the premises.

A family friend, at the time, claimed it looked as though Brits had been strangled with a dog chain and dragged to the pool.

Police arrested three men soon after the incident, and one of them, Jacques van Vuuren, 37, was sentenced in the Kimberley High Court after entering into a plea bargain agreement last Thursday.

Kock said the court handed Van Vuuren a 25-year-sentence, of which five years was suspended for the murder, 15 years for aggravated robbery and three years for unlawful possession of a firearm.

The sentences will run concurrently, and he is effectively expected to serve 20 years in jail.

The two other accused, Amantle Bareki, 24, and Enrich Williams, 34, also face charges of murder, aggravated robbery and possession of illegal firearms. They are expected to appear in the Pofadder Magistrate's Court on 17 May.

"The 30-year-old wife will be charged with murder, aggravated robbery and perjury, and should be appearing in the Pofadder Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 31 March 2021."

Investigations around the case are continuing, the spokesperson said.

– News24