As parents across the country dropped their kids off at school this morning, thoughts may have turned towards murdered Cape Town advocate Pete Mihalik, shot yesterday outside Reddam House in Green Point with his two children in the car with him.

When news first broke, Mihalik’s ties to the Cape underworld were immediately pointed out, as fellow Reddam parents recounted the shock of what happened.

Later, one trial, in particular, was highlighted – that of alleged extortion syndicate boss Nafiz Modack‚ which is due to start next week in the Cape Town Regional Court.

Now Pete’s father, Janos Mihalik, who is also an advocate, has told News24 what he thinks was behind the hit:

“When I watched the news, I couldn’t believe it… I was shocked”… He said his son sometimes had arguments with clients about payment for his services.

“He took these cases on and agreed on the fee. I think it was a fight about money…

Mihalik senior [below], also an advocate, said he had planned to see his 50-year-old son later this week.

“I would have seen him on Friday, which is my birthday. I don’t know what he had in mind.”

With the murder still very fresh, the family has not yet decided on the future of Mihalik’s son and daughter.

Another potential reason was put forward earlier this morning:

A taxi boss is reportedly behind the murder of criminal attorney Pete Mihalik, Netwerk24 reported on Wednesday.

The suspect, from Khayelitsha, owns taxis that service the Delft route on the Cape Flats…

According to Netwerk24, the murder of Mihalik could be related to his representation of the accused in the case against Nkosithandile Cekasayo, a taxi driver, as well as two of his brothers and another man. They reportedly appeared in the Western Cape High Court on a charge of murder and three of attempted murder.

The case was set to proceed on Wednesday, according to Netwerk24.

Further harrowing details of the shooting also emerged:

Neighbours who rushed outside after hearing two shots reported that they saw blood all over the son, while the daughter apparently screamed for an ambulance.

“She [the daughter] is in matric and has six distinctions,” explained Mihalik senior. “She wanted to study law and medicine, but ended up with law.

“She probably wanted to be an advocate like her father. She might have changed her mind now.”

One suspect was taken into custody yesterday, apparently apprehended near Atlantis, as Times LIVE reports:

An arrest has been made for Tuesday’s murder of Cape Town advocate Pete Mihalik…

Two men were involved in the killing of Mihalik outside Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard in Green Point‚ where he was dropping his son and daughter at 7.35am.

The gunman fired at Mihalik through the driver’s door window. He then ran to a silver VW Polo‚ where a getaway driver was waiting‚ and the car sped off…

Another witness said the Polo‚ with GP number plates‚ sped away from the scene. “One man was in the vehicle as the other came running back. He got in as the car screeched away from the scene‚” said the man‚ who did not want to be named.

According to Mihalik’s partner‚ Bruce Hendricks, Mihalik’s son Daniel is in a “stable” condition in a Cape Town private hospital‚ but he still had a bullet lodged in his jaw.

Earlier this morning, EWN reported that a second suspect was questioned

In the latest development in the investigation into Mihalik’s murder, police took in a second suspect for questioning on Tuesday night…

Police say the two haven’t been charged.

Police Minister Bheki Cele said, about the first suspect, that “the [guy] came from the province I come from. They moved all the way to shoot a person here [Cape Town].”

Pete Mihalik had endured a torrid few years. His wife, Karin [below], hanged herself in 2015 at the age of 48 (some earlier reports mistakenly claimed she hanged herself this year), and his mother, Hantie, committed suicide at age 38 by taking rat poison.

In addition, his sister also killed herself at the age of 38 by jumping off a building.

According to certain sources in the Cape underworld, Pete’s murder could set in motion an escalation of violence, with many fearing retribution killings will take place.

From another News24 piece:

An underworld figure close to Mihalik told News24 that “his blood will be picked up by his loyal friends”, a clear indication that there could be revenge attacks…

A lawyer who worked with Mihalik, who does not want to be named, said there is concern that “there will be chaos now”.

“There are a lot of people who are upset about how it happened,” the attorney said.

The Cape underworld war has been raging for years, and last year March saw a violent coup take place.

If you want to better understand who the main players are, and what’s at stake, have a look around here.

[sources:news24&timeslive&ewn&news24]