The defence in the kidnapping trial of Gqeberha biokineticist Riana Pretorius openly accused her of orchestrating her kidnapping with the help of her ex-boyfriend as she wrapped up a third day of testimony at the Gqeberha Regional Court on Wednesday.
Wayne Mac Gear is representing Xolani Kafile, one of the men accused of kidnapping Pretorius outside her workplace in Newton Park in March last year.
On Monday, Pretorius took the stand and burst into tears when she described hearing her Dad's voice on the phone while running to safety, dazed and bewildered after an eight-day ordeal.
On Wednesday, Mac Gear, accused her of being in cahoots with her ex, Carel du Preez, to solicit money from her dad. He said another possibility was that du Preez acted alone.
According to Mac Gear, du Preez had a financial motive to commit the crime, referencing that du Preez had lost millions in a failed business deal with Pretorius' Dad.
He put it to her that during her eight days in captivity, she wasn't tied up or injured.
Mac Gear further said he found it strange that out of more than one million people in the city, Pretorius was the random target of a kidnapping for ransom.
The financial woes of Riana Pretorius' ex-boyfriend, her recollection of events on the day, and why she had become the target of a kidnapping came under scrutiny in the Gqeberha regional court on Tuesday.
When Mac Gear put it to her that she orchestrated her kidnapping and was in cahoots with her now ex-boyfriend Carel du Preez, she expressed her gratitude that she was not hurt.
When the defence argued that her ex-boyfriend Carel Du Preez had a financial motive and roped her in, she questioned this statement, asking why she would do that as it would be like stealing your own money as it belonged to her family.
Xolani Kafile and his co-accused, Xolisile Rawutini remain in custody.
Meanwhile, a Gqeberha father who feared for his daughter's life on Thursday told the court of his negotiations with kidnappers who demanded millions in cash for her safe return.
Pieter Pretorius was next to testify in the city's regional court in the kidnapping trial of his daughter.
He told State Advocate Benedict Wilson that he was in Fort Beaufort when his wife called to inform him that Riana was "taken."
He said an unknown person made a ransom demand of R2m that same day.
The court heard how he received numerous calls from different numbers, informing him that the alleged kidnappers were "serious."
When they called again the next day, Pretorius asked them for proof that Riana was still alive.
Numerous videos of Riana sent to her father as "proof of life" were played in court.
In the videos, a tearful Riana is seen begging her father to pay the ransom.
In all of the videos, her eyes are shut.
Pretorius said at some stage over the eight days, the kidnappers were silent for about two to three days.
When they made contact again, he was told they knew the family had involved the police.
"I started getting together as much money as I could, because I knew my daughters life was on the line.
"They asked for cash and we struggled to get cash together.
"Some family members withdrew cash from their businesses.
"Special arrangements were made for them to fly from Johannesburg with large sums of cash," he said.
Pretorius said detectives marked the money before it was packed into a brown school bag.
He described one failed attempt at a money drop at Kenako Mall.
When he eventually handed the alleged kidnappers the money, the exchange took place on the R75 road.
According to Pretorius, he was informed to remain there until the kidnappers counted and checked the money.
He was informed that Riana would be brought to him, but he headed home after a few hours when nobody turned up, and the kidnapper's phones were switched off.
"I thought that my daughter was gone, and so was the money."
Anxiety turned to relief, however, when Riana called to say she had been released.
She was found at a garage in a state of shock and taken to the police station, Pretorius testified.
Xolani Rawutini and Xolisile Kafile face a charge of kidnapping.
The trial continues.
