South African court jails 71-year-old woman for killing three great-grandchildren

A 71-year-old woman from South Africa, Susana "Sarie" De Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murders of her three great-grandchildren. The Worcester Regional Court in the Western Cape handed down the sentence in March 2025, after De Villiers pleaded guilty to the crimes. The victims, Caleb Booysen aged eight, Gradwell Booysen aged five, and Joshua Booysen aged 18 months, died on November 20, 2021, when De Villiers lost control of her vehicle on Bainskloof Pass.

She survived the crash but sustained severe injuries, including broken ribs and a neck injury. The court ruled that she would serve a total of 20 years, as the sentences ran concurrently. De Villiers was not allowed to own a firearm. The children had been visiting her home in Wellington that day, but tragically, they did not reach their destination.

Witnesses reported that De Villiers bypassed traffic control points and passed through a closed boom gate. When her vehicle failed to reach a fourth traffic control point, a patrol vehicle was dispatched to investigate. Rescuers found her vehicle down the pass and had to lift the toddler to safety. Bad weather hindered the use of a rescue helicopter.

During the sentencing, magistrate Clifton Maseti refused to grant De Villiers early release and ordered her imprisonment.