THE master of the Limpopo high court has become the latest victim of rampant crime .

A disputed Nissan double-cab bakkie owned by two widows went missing at the Thohoyandou government complex.

The master of the court told the widows the property they were fighting over had gone missing and asked if they knew anything about its disappearance.

The court had been set to resolve the dispute over the estate of businessman Ponkie Monyae, whose widows are fighting over the ownership of the car.

One of the widows, Nkarabeng Motau, told Sowetan that she was shocked when she learnt that her late husband's property had gone missing under the master's nose.

"I could not believe it," Motau said. "My lawyer told me the car had been reported missing but I want it - that's my car."

Motau and Tshifhiwa Malange became embroiled in a legal battle after their husband died in 2007.

Motau claims she bought the car for Monyae and paid for it.

The war between the two intensified since Malange is also claiming the vehicle.

Now the two widows are united in anger after learning that the car had gone missing. The master was supposed to make sure that the car was kept safe.

Sowetan learnt that the master wrote to the lawyers representing the widows informing them of the disappearance of the of the car.

When contacted in Thohoyandou, the master of the high court refused to comment and said the matter was still under investigation.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson inspector Nkanukeni Raedane could not confirm whether a case of vehicle theft had been opened.