“If I lived in Steiltes, I would sleep with one eye open. There are violent criminals roaming the streets who are cold-blooded killers.”
These were the words of Jaco Craucamp, husband of the deceased Ilonka Craucamp, who was shot and killed on Christmas Day alongside her partner, Shawn Pretorius.
It is exactly one month this week since the horrific discovery of Ilonka and Shawn’s bodies in Laser Street. The couple were in the process of divorcing their spouses.
Also read: Two people found murdered in Steiltes on Christmas
Their children had not heard from either on Christmas Day and became worried when their WhatsApp messages went unread and their calls were left unanswered.
Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit was requested to investigate that day and once again at 21:00, and their deaths were confirmed shortly afterwards. Shawn was shot multiple times and Ilonka once.
Jaco told Lowvelder on January 23 that he was disappointed at the slow pace of the police investigation. The assistance of Bossies Justice and AG Solutions was acquired shortly after the murders, and Albert Gryvenstein, the COO, confirmed that several leads were being followed.
“There are limitations to what Albert and his team can do. The speedy reaction to the information given through as well as certain administrative processes are in the hands of the police. For the past month, I have been repeatedly told that they were busy, but that no arrests have been made. All we need now is for the police to kick-start the acquired steps to access information and follow up on the leads provided to them.
Also read: Lowveld community in shock over double murder on Christmas Day
“My hands are tied, but we want answers and the case needs attention. It is only a matter of time until it is going to happen again. These violent criminals are roaming the streets of Nelspruit and specifically Steiltes, and have been for a while. If they are not caught and removed from society, someone else will be killed.”
He was especially concerned that the perpetrators might have fled the country, and said the assistance of neighbouring countries’ authorities would then be needed to trace them.
Jaco said it has been a difficult time, especially for his children: “I have a daughter in Grade Eight and one in Grade 12 who have lost their mother. It is a period of their lives when they need to have a mother, and her death has created a void I can’t fill.”
Gryvenstein told Lowvelder on January 24 that their investigation was completed, and confirmed that the next phase was now in the police’s hands. “We have done what we could, and only once the follow-up process from the police is done, we can rejoin and assist with the investigation.”
The information is sensitive; he did not want to elaborate on exactly what these entailed.
A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, commented: “No arrests have yet been made.”
Also read: Two people found murdered in Steiltes on Christmas
