THERE is a strong likelihood that the murder of prominent King William's Town medical practitioner Dr Pox Raghavjee was a professional hit.

This was said yesterday by private investigator Christian Botha who was hired by Raghavjee's wife, Heather, to look into the circumstances surrounding her husband's mysterious 2007 killing.

On Saturday the Daily Dispatch newspaper reported that police were investigating possible links between the murder of Raghavjee and that of Anni Dewani who was killed during an alleged hijacking in Cape Town last month.

Dewani's husband Shrien has since been implicated in her murder, while the murder of Raghavjee remains unsolved some three years after he was killed.

Ben Watson, representing the South African government, told the London high court during Shrien's bail application that he (Shrien) was allegedly involved in a similar faked hijacking in South Africa in which a person was murdered.

Yesterday Botha, speaking for the Raghavjee family, said his clients had expressed great shock at learning that the doctor's death is possibly linked to the much-publicised killing of Dewani.

The family had, however, welcomed the fact that police were once again looking into the killing.

"I spoke with Yashin Raghavjee, Dr Pox Raghavjee's son, this morning (Sunday) and he told me that the family were happy that the case was being re-looked into and that they are excited," he said.

Botha said the family was reluctant to speak to the media at present and would not be drawn on whether they believed there was a link between the killing of Raghavjee and Dewani.

"The investigation is at a sensitive stage and the family do not want to jeopardise it," he said.

Botha would also not be drawn on whether he thought the two murders were linked.

"It's very difficult to comment on at the moment but what I will say is that a lack of evidence at the crime scene of Dr Pox Raghavjee's murder and the fact that nothing has come to light about the murder in the past three years suggests it could have been done professionally," Botha said.

Last month, newly-weds Shrien and Anni Dewani made headlines after they were hijacked in Cape Town's Gugulethu township.

Dewani was allegedly pushed out of their hired car, which was being driven by Zola Tongo, while Anni's body was found later.

She had been shot.

Tongo was arrested soon thereafter. He entered into plea bargain with the State and was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the killing. In a shocking revelation in his confession statement, Tongo told the Cape Town high court of how the murder was allegedly orchestrated by Shrien.

The alleged hijackers, Mzwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, were arrested.

Last week it emerged that Monde Mbolombolo - a friend of Tongo's - was a fourth suspect and is wanted by police.

Mbolombolo allegedly acted as the middleman and organised Qwabe and Mngeni to carry out the hit.

Mbolombolo has deleted his facebook profile and has since left his job at Protea Hotels. The company told the Dispatch that they are assisting police with their investigations.

There are unconfirmed reports that Mbolombolo has turned state witness and is in a witness protection programme.

Speaking to Dispatch last month, Heather Raghavjee revealed that she was close to the Dewani's because of the similarities of what happened to the two families - referring to the two murders.

It also emerged that Shrien's parents had visited East London and King William's Town last year, while there are also unconfirmed reports that Raghavjee's other son, England-based businessman Krischen, and Shrien are close friends.