SOUTH AFRICAN GREAT-GRANDMOTHER JAILED 20 YEARS FOR MURDERING THREE CHILDREN

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A South African great-grandmother, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murders of her three great-grandchildren.

According to South African news outlet Nova News, De Villiers was sentenced on Thursday by the Worcester Regional Court in the Western Cape province after pleading guilty to the three murders in March 2025.

The victims were Caleb Booysen, eight; Gradwell Booysen, five; and Joshua Booysen, 18 months.

The children died after De Villiers drove a vehicle off Bainskloof Pass on November 20, 2021. She survived the incident but sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs and a neck injury.

The court imposed a 20-year prison sentence for each murder but ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning De Villiers will serve 20 years in total. The court also declared her unfit to possess a firearm.

The children had been visiting De Villiers and other relatives at her home in Wellington and were expected to be driven home by her on the day of the incident. However, they never reached their destination.

According to Nova News, eyewitnesses told authorities that roadworks were ongoing on Bainskloof Pass, where traffic was being controlled at stop-and-go points.

Witnesses reportedly saw De Villiers drive through the control points without stopping and pass a closed boom gate.

Traffic control officers halted other vehicles to prevent a possible head-on collision. When De Villiers’ vehicle failed to arrive at a fourth control point, a patrol vehicle was dispatched to investigate.

The vehicle was later discovered to have left the road and plunged down the pass.

Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua survived briefly before succumbing to his injuries, the report said.

Poor weather conditions prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching the scene, forcing rescuers to carry the toddler up to the road.

During the sentencing, magistrate Clifton Maseti revoked De Villiers’ release on warning and issued a warrant committing her to prison.