A 71-year-old South African great-grandmother, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murders of 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 South Africa’s Western Cape province sentenced her on Thursday over the deaths of the children, identified as Caleb Booysen, eight; Gradwell Booysen, five; and Joshua Booysen, 18 months.
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 sentenced her to 20 years in prison for each murder but ordered the terms to run concurrently, meaning she will serve 20 years in total. She was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Before the incident, 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 arrived. Eyewitnesses told authorities that roadworks were ongoing on Bainskloof Pass, where traffic was being controlled at stop-and-go points. They reportedly saw De Villiers drive past the control points without stopping and proceed through a closed boom gate.
Traffic control officers stopped other vehicles to prevent a possible head-on collision. When De Villiers’ vehicle failed to arrive at a fourth control point, a patrol vehicle was sent to investigate. The vehicle was later found to have veered off the road and plunged down the pass. According to reports, Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua, 18 months, succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.
Poor weather conditions prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching the crash site, forcing rescuers to carry the toddler up to the road. During the sentencing, magistrate Clifton Maseti revoked De Villiers’ release on warning and issued a warrant for her committal to prison.
