71-Year-Old Woman Jailed 20 Years For K!lling Three Great-Grandchildren
71-Year-Old Woman Jailed 20 Years For Killing Three Great-Grandchildren
De Villiers was handed the sentence by the Worcester Regional Court after pleading guilty in March 2025 to three counts of murder, according to South African news outlet Nova News.
ASouth African court has sentenced a 71-year-old great-grandmother, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, to 20 years in prison for the deaths of three of her great-grandchildren in a 2021 vehicle crash in the Western Cape.
De Villiers was handed the sentence by the Worcester Regional Court after pleading guilty in March 2025 to three counts of murder, according to South African news outlet Nova News.
The victims were identified as Caleb Booysen, eight; Gradwell Booysen, five; and Joshua Booysen, 18 months.
The children died after the vehicle being driven by De Villiers left the road and plunged down Bainskloof Pass on November 20, 2021.
Although the court imposed 20 years for each of the three murders, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning De Villiers will spend 20 years in prison rather than serving the sentences consecutively.
The court also declared her unfit to possess a firearm.
The children had been visiting De Villiers and other family members at her home in Wellington and were expected to be driven back home by her on the day of the incident.
However, their journey ended in tragedy at Bainskloof Pass, where roadworks were underway and traffic was being managed through several stop-and-go control points.
According to evidence reported by local media, eyewitnesses saw De Villiers drive through the traffic-control points without stopping and continue past a closed boom gate.
Other motorists were reportedly stopped by traffic officials to prevent a possible head-on collision with her vehicle.
When De Villiers failed to reach a fourth traffic-control point, a patrol vehicle was sent to search for her.
The vehicle was subsequently discovered after it had veered off the road and plunged down the steep pass.
Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua was critically injured and later died.
Rescuers faced additional difficulties because of poor weather conditions, which prevented a helicopter from accessing the crash site. The injured toddler was reportedly carried back up to the road by rescuers
De Villiers survived the crash but suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs and a neck injury.
During court sentencing proceedings, magistrate Clifton Maseti revoked De Villiers’ release on warning and issued a warrant committing her to prison.
The case has culminated in a 20-year custodial sentence for the deaths of the three children, nearly five years after the fatal incident at Bainskloof Pass.
