Cape Town Bulgarian hits ‘linked’

Police last issued images of suspects they believe were involved in the Cape Town killings of Krasimir Kamenov, his wife and two others from Bulgaria. Daily Maverick now reveals that the couple was involved in business linked to another murdered duo, and diamonds. The Kamenov Collection, based on its Instagram account, was an online business that offered diamonds, gemstones and custom-designed jewellery. On 3 May 2019, a post was made on that account. It included a photograph of Gergana Kamenova and was captioned: ‘Style, elegance and sophistication. This collection is curated by Gerry herself. Mother of three, Miss Bulgaria and Universe 2007, model, wife and style queen. Four years and a few weeks later, Kamenova was murdered in her home in Constantia with her husband and two of their employees. At the time of the shootings Kamenov was wanted in Bulgaria in connection with a murder. The killings sparked a flurry of theories about why the four were murdered – from Kamenov’s name surfacing in international state capture-type plots, to local gangsters targeting him and Kamenova as part of a robbery, and possible ties to dodgy diamond dealings.

Based on its Instagram account, it appeared the Kamenov Collection was initially meant to offer ‘authentic pre-owned luxury items from… premium brands’. It subsequently only advertised pieces of jewellery, including various diamond rings. Kamenov was linked to another couple, also originally from Bulgaria, who were murdered close to where he and Kamenova were killed – and who also appeared to be linked to diamond dealings. Angelo Dimov and his wife Nezabravka Peeva were assassinated on 12 February 2018. They were shot in a home they were renting in Bergvliet, about 5km from the other hit. At the time, Dimov had been facing criminal charges relating to a credit card scam in a case dating back to 2008. There were also suspicions in police circles that he was involved in illegal drugs and diamonds. DM notes that Kamenov and Dimov were in business together – they were once members of a company named Bull’s-Eye Solutions 102.