South African woman, 71, jailed 20 years for killing three great-grandchildren

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The victims were Caleb Booysen, eight, Gradwell Booysen, five, and Joshua Booysen, two. They died on 20 November 2021 when De Villiers drove off Bainskloof Pass near Worcester.

A 71-year-old South African woman, Susana Johanna de Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her three great-grandchildren by deliberately driving her vehicle off a mountain pass in 2021.

The Worcester Regional Court in the Western Cape sentenced her to 20 years for each of the three murders, with the terms to run concurrently.

The victims were Caleb Booysen, eight, Gradwell Booysen, five, and Joshua Booysen, two. They died on 20 November 2021 when De Villiers drove off Bainskloof Pass near Worcester.

Reports of the court proceedings said De Villiers had collected the children from their caregiver, who was attending a wedding. Rather than return them, she drove towards the mountain pass and sent her vehicle down the slope.

She survived the crash, but the children died from multiple injuries.

De Villiers initially pleaded guilty but sought to rely on diminished responsibility. She later told the court that she had been struggling emotionally and wanted to spare herself and the children further suffering.

However, a psychiatric assessment found that she understood her actions were wrong and was capable of acting in accordance with that understanding. The assessment found no evidence of psychosis.

The prosecution argued that her personal difficulties could not justify the deliberate killing of the children.

The National Prosecuting Authority commended the investigating officer and prosecutor for their work in securing the convictions and sentences.