The plot to assasinate Deon Helberg has thickened, it now reads like a Hollywood story… or a true television soapie.

The woman, Manda Reyneke, was arrested on Thursday by the Hawks at the Atterbury Value Mart, for allegedly conspiring to murder Blue Bulls rugby player Deon Helberg, police said.

The Pretoria Newspapers suggest that Manda Reyneke is alleged to have hatched her plan four months ago after Helberg allegedly spurned her advances when she tried to rekindle their romance.

Helberg, 21, ended their two-year relationship in August last year – apparently after his girlfriend discovered that he was sexually involved with her mother.

They further report that the two men (Nigerians) sent a photo of Helberg, lying in his driveway with fake blood on his chest and neck to Reyneke, who replied: ‘Job well done, see you tomorrow’.

Reyneke was taken into custody shortly after handing over R10 000 to the two Nigerians.

Web sources then goes on to report that according to one of the Nigerians, she said she would buy each of them a house and pay them R10 000 a month for a year after the murder. She had also given them R30 000 to buy the weapons, ammunition and other equipment needed to commit the crime. They had then gone to the police, who had decided to stage the ‘murder’ of Helberg.

Helberg’s uncle, Johan Lourens, told Beeld that Reyneke – who is believed to be in the process of separating from her husband, Dave, a prominent Pretoria doctor – had threatened to kill Helberg two years ago and that he had gone through hell since then, wondering every day if this would be the day he was going to be murdered.

Helberg has returned to his family’s home in the North West Province.

Reyneke is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of conspiracy to murder.