A 71-year-old South African woman, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her three great-grandchildren.
According to South African news outlet Nova News, De Villiers pleaded guilty to the three murders in March 2025. The Worcester Regional Court in the Western Cape sentenced her on Thursday.
The victims were Caleb Booysen, eight; Gradwell Booysen, five; and Joshua Booysen, 18 months old.
The children died on November 20, 2021, when De Villiers drove a vehicle off Bainskloof Pass. She survived the crash but sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs and a neck injury.
The court handed her a 20-year sentence for each murder. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning she will serve a total of 20 years in prison. The court also ruled that she was not fit to possess a firearm.
The children had been visiting De Villiers and other relatives at her home in Wellington. She was expected to drive them home that day, but they never reached their destination.
Witnesses told authorities that roadworks were ongoing along Bainskloof Pass, where traffic officers were controlling vehicles at stop-and-go points.
They reportedly saw De Villiers drive past the traffic control points without stopping and pass through a closed boom gate.
Traffic officers stopped other vehicles to prevent a possible head-on collision. When De Villiers’ vehicle failed to reach a fourth traffic control point, a patrol vehicle was sent to investigate.
Rescuers later discovered that the vehicle had left the road and plunged down the pass.
Nova News reported that Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua survived briefly before succumbing to his injuries.
Bad weather prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching the crash site. Rescuers had to carry the toddler up to the road.
During the sentencing, magistrate Clifton Maseti cancelled De Villiers’ release on warning and issued a warrant for her imprisonment.
