A South African woman, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her three great-grandchildren in a vehicle crash in the Western Cape province.
De Villiers was sentenced on Thursday by the Worcester Regional Court after pleading guilty to the three murders in March 2025, 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 on November 20, 2021, when a vehicle driven by De Villiers plunged off Bainskloof Pass. She survived the crash but suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs and an injury to her neck.
Reports indicated that the children had been visiting De Villiers and other family members at her residence in Wellington. They were expected to return home with her that day but never reached their destination.
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that roadworks were ongoing along Bainskloof Pass, where traffic officers were regulating movement through designated stop-and-go points.
De Villiers was said to have driven past the traffic control points without stopping and continued through a closed boom gate.
Traffic officers subsequently stopped other motorists to avert a possible head-on collision. When her vehicle failed to appear at the fourth control point, a patrol vehicle was sent to investigate.
The vehicle was later discovered off the road, having plunged down the pass.
Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua initially survived but later died from his injuries, Nova News reported.
Adverse weather conditions prevented a rescue helicopter from accessing the crash site, forcing rescuers to carry the toddler up to the road.
During Thursday’s court proceedings, magistrate Clifton Maseti sentenced De Villiers to 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the three murders. However, the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning she will serve a total of 20 years.
The court also declared her unfit to possess a firearm.
Maseti further revoked her release on warning and issued a warrant for her committal to prison.
