Western Cape woman jailed for killing three great-grandchildren
The great-grandmother pleaded guilty to the murders but also claimed diminished responsibility in her plea explanation.
A 71-year-old woman, Susara Johanna de Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the premeditated murder of her three great-grandchildren. The incident occurred in November 2021 when De Villiers drove the children's car off a cliff on Bainskloof Pass in Ceres, Western Cape. The children, Caleb, Gradwell, and Joshua, had been removed from their parents' care due to neglect and substance abuse.
De Villiers pleaded guilty to the murders but claimed diminished responsibility. The court heard that on the day of the incident, De Villiers collected the children for the day while their caregiver attended a wedding. She put them in her vehicle, intending to return them to their caregiver, but instead drove off the cliff, killing all three children.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) argued that De Villiers' actions were premeditated, and the court found her fit to stand trial. Despite her difficult upbringing and past trauma, the prosecutor argued that a lengthy custodial sentence was warranted due to the deliberate and premeditated killing of young children entrusted to her care.
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