MTHATHA – The dealer principal of a Mthatha car dealership, Mauritz Andries Rheeder (58), appeared before the Mthatha High Court today (17 September), accused of murdering his girlfriend, Riana Nel (51).

According to a statement by AfriForum, Nel was a former police detective while Rheeder was a former police officer.

As previously reported, Rheeder was arrested on suspicion of murdering Nel after allegedly visiting her in hospital and bringing refreshments to her bedside, where she was recovering from injuries he was accused of inflicting days earlier.

His case was postponed until 5 April 2027 to allow the State to gather further evidence and make proper preparations for witnesses, as they live far from Mthatha.

Post-mortem reveals extent of injuries

The court heard evidence from Dr Nondumiso Kobo Mashalaba, who confirmed that she conducted a post-mortem examination on Nel’s body on 9 June 2025.

“All blood vessels on her brain were bleeding; she also had bruises on the forehead and above the left eye. She had a traumatic brain injury,” Mashalaba said.

She confirmed that the deceased had succumbed to her injuries at the hospital due to a head injury caused by blunt force trauma secondary to assault.

“The bruises were caused by bleeding inside the skin. I also found that the body had two abrasions on the skin at the back of her body,” she said.

She added that no one could inflict these types of injuries on themselves.

Prosecutor outlines alleged circumstances

State Prosecutor Avumile Bikitsha stated that it was alleged that the deceased was sleeping on her stomach and that there was a bicycle on top of her.

Mashalaba said the injuries could only have been caused if someone was riding the bicycle on top of the deceased.

Mashalaba emphasised that the cause of injury was bleeding and that the death resulted from injuries caused by blunt force to her head.

“You cannot cause these injuries on your own; they are caused by someone else,” said Mashalaba.

Defence challenges account of injuries

Advocate Ngxishe, who refused to give the reporter her first name, showed Mashalaba footage in which a person was standing on the burglar bars, with both her hands hanging outside.

“I am showing you this video because the deceased was left alone on that day when the head injury occurred. According to the video, she just fell; that is how she got her injuries. There is also evidence which says the deceased was seen crawling on the steps; that is why she had bruises,” said Ngxishe.

Mashalaba denied this, stating that she was only presenting to the court what she found when examining the deceased.

According to the court indictment, Rheeder and the deceased were in a domestic relationship and were cohabiting at his workplace, Mahindra MMG Company in Mthatha, when the incident occurred.

Security officer describes alleged argument

On 31 May 2025, the accused and the deceased were seen by a security officer going to and from town together in the afternoon.

It is alleged that, in the evening, the same security officer, Andile Sokhuni, was on night-shift duty when he heard a loud noise from the back room occupied by the couple.

Upon investigating the noise, he heard the voice of the deceased shouting from inside.

He allegedly concluded that there was an argument between the two.

As he continued listening, he saw both of them coming out of the room, still arguing.

It is alleged that the accused told the security officer not to worry about the fight.

As the night went on, Sokhuni heard screams from the same flat.

He realised that it was the deceased who was crying and screaming.

He saw her in the passage screaming, but the burglar door was locked.

In the morning, when knocking off duty, the security officer told his relief officer about what had transpired during the night.

Employee allegedly instructed to clean blood

It is alleged that, in the morning, an employee, Siyasanga Myathaza, of the same company was approached by the accused, who informed him that the deceased was badly injured in their flat.

The employee and the accused took her to hospital with serious injuries to her body.

She was unable to speak.

The accused allegedly instructed the employee to throw away the bicycle that had bloodstains on it and to clean the blood.

He never reported the incident to the police or his manager.

On 6 June 2025, the deceased succumbed to her injuries at the hospital due to a head injury caused by blunt force trauma secondary to assault.

The sister of the deceased, Annelie Steyn, received WhatsApp messages from the deceased on the night of 31 May 2025, telling her that the accused had assaulted her severely and that she feared she would die.

The presiding judge postponed the matter to 5 April 2027, stating that the State was being given an opportunity to prepare its witnesses.

“This case was scheduled for this week to be finalised, but the State asked for more time to make preparations for the witnesses since they are not living nearby. We have also looked at all the avenues of this case, as the accused stated that he had heart problems and could die at any time. The court heard that he was diagnosed with this when he was in prison, but he is receiving medication to deal with his condition,” she said.

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