“A frightening letter, in which the alleged motive for Phumeza Pepeta’s brazen murder is set out, has rattled her family and friends, who watched helplessly as she was gunned down at her father’s funeral by a man wearing women ’ s clothing and a wig.”

“You have left me with no option but to kill you to end the pain,” the lengthy letter, sent to them via WhatsApp about six weeks after the murder, reads.

“Before Pepeta was fatally wounded, she had been fighting with her ex-husband, Xolani Mkayi, who wanted access to their young daughter.”

“Pepeta’s upset younger sister, Phelokazi, said the family had reported the letter to authorities at St Alban’s Prison, where her former brother-inlaw was awaiting trial for the murder.”

“A cellphone found in his cell was later confiscated.

Department of correctional services regional spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana said the department was aware of the incident.”

“Disciplinary action was taken against the offender,” Gantana said.

“Family members received the first WhatsApp message on September 5, a day after Mkayi, 55, was due to appear in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court.

Pepeta, 45, a human resources management executive, had obtained a protection order against Mkayi after their separation.”

“They have a 10-year-old daughter.”

The letter, which first appears to address Pepeta and later the couple’s daughter, reads: “I told you if you do not grant me access to my daughter, I will stop maintaining her and there is no court in this world that will force me to maintain a child I don’t have access to.

“That will only happen while I’m dead or in jail.

“I am suffering inside to the extent that I told you that my decision has now become final, that if you do not give me access, we will both have no access to our child.”

“Old photographs of Mkayi carrying his daughter on his back during happier times were also sent to the family, as well as screenshots of text messages between himself and Pepeta.”

“To my little princess, I am sorry that you will have to grow [up] without a mother.

“I had to make sure she too does not have access to you.

“In spirit, she [Pepeta] might still have access to you and serving [a] life sentence or [a] lengthy term you might still be able to visit me (sic).”

“Phelokazi, 30, said a close family friend had phoned the number from which the letter was sent and the man who answered claimed to be Mkayi.

After the phone was confiscated by prison authorities, the family began receiving the same letter from another number, she said.”

“Phelokazi said the last time a family member heard from the person who they believe to be Mkayi was on October 7, a day after he next appeared in court.”

The letter further states: “It is not about us, it is about all the children who are not allowed to see their fathers and fathers who are not allowed access to their children.

“I repeated this statement on several occasions and I knew I am not making a joke.

“Furthermore, I told you we will both be the losers in the fight.

“Some people will ask, why am I punishing the child.

“My response is the same. Why is Phumeza punishing the child?”

“Unfortunately, we live in a country where, in certain circumstances, there has to be a tragedy to receive attention from authorities.

“You cannot get away with this every time.”