A budding Springbok, his model girlfriend, her mother, two hitmen and doctored ''death photos'' have combined for an out-of-this-world scandal playing out in the South African courts. The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram reports.
"Deon Helberg, who represented South Africa in Sevens rugby, has gone into hiding since revelations that his girlfriend's mother plotted to have him killed late last year - the culmination of a sordid love triangle.
"The saga began when Helberg moved in with his girlfriend Jalien and her mother Manda Reyneke last year. A secret affair between Manda Reyneke, 47, and Helberg, 21, reached such intensity that Mrs Reyneke allegedly hired two hitmen to take out Helberg when he told her that he had had enough.
"Police allege Mrs Reyneke met two Nigerian men at a pub and asked them to kill Helberg. Some media reported her offer was $16,000 plus a house for each man. After some protracted dealings, a frustrated Mrs Reyneke sent the men text messages: ''Be scared, be very afraid. You have done me in and wrong with lies. You never shot anybody the other night. That was revealed by the candle of truth'', and ''My friend confirmed her problem is still walking around. If this is your way of doing business, to threaten your client with ratting her out and cheating her of her money, then today you have lost my R80,000 [South African rand].''
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