A South African court has sentenced a 71-year-old woman, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, to 20 years in prison for the deaths of her three great-grandchildren in a road crash.
De Villiers was convicted after pleading guilty to three counts of murder over the November 2021 incident in which the children died after the vehicle she was driving plunged off Bainskloof Pass in the Western Cape.
The victims were identified as Caleb Booysen, eight, Gradwell Booysen, five, and 18-month-old Joshua Booysen.
The children had reportedly spent time with De Villiers and other relatives at her home in Wellington and were being driven home when the incident occurred.
According to reports, roadworks were underway on the pass at the time, with traffic officers controlling the movement of vehicles. De Villiers allegedly drove past the traffic control points and went through a closed boom gate.
When she failed to reach another control point, a patrol vehicle was sent to search for her.
The vehicle was later found after it had gone off the road and plunged down the pass. Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua was rescued but later died from his injuries.
Poor weather reportedly prevented a rescue helicopter from accessing the crash site, forcing rescuers to carry the toddler to the road.
The Worcester Regional Court handed De Villiers a 20-year sentence for each of the three murders. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning she will serve 20 years in total.
Magistrate Clifton Maseti also cancelled her release on warning and issued a warrant for her imprisonment. The court further ruled that De Villiers was not fit to possess a firearm.
