Wellington – A 69-year-old grandmother from Wellington is receiving unexpected support after admitting to intentionally driving her car over a precipice in the Bainskloof Pass, resulting in the deaths of her three great-grandchildren. The tragic incident, which occurred in November 2021, has sparked a complex mix of grief, anger, and understanding within the community.
Sarie de Villiers was driving with her great-grandchildren, Joshua (18 months), Gradwill (5), and Caleb (8) Booysen, when she took the devastating step. The children died instantly, while De Villiers survived the crash.
The incident unfolded on November 23rd as they were returning to Smartie Town in Paarl after a weekend visit with De Villiers in Wellington. Overcome by a sudden impulse, the great-grandmother veered off course and drove towards Bainskloof Pass. Ignoring several roadblocks, she accelerated over the edge of the precipice. The vehicle came to rest 80 meters below.
The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, confirmed that De Villiers appeared in the Worcester Magistrate's Court on March 28th this year and pleaded guilty to three charges of murder. However, the state rejected the plea, citing the accused's claim that her capacity was impaired at the time of the offence.
"The court entered a plea of not guilty with the facts admitted in the plea agreement entered into evidence. The only issue in dispute is therefore her diminished capacity at the time she committed the offence," Ntabazalila explained. The case has been postponed until May 14th to allow the defence to determine the availability of expert witnesses to support this claim.
In a psychiatric report submitted to the court, which has been seen by Son, De Villiers described her emotional state to the psychiatrist, revealing the depth of her despair: "I can't handle the children's misery anymore. I feel guilty, they have nothing left."
Despite the horrific nature of the crime, De Villiers is receiving support from some quarters. A family member of the children, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that while she does not condone De Villiers' actions, she understands the woman's heart and can comprehend, to some extent, what drove her to such a desperate act.
Annalise Tielingse, the sister of the children's grandmother on their mother's side, lived with the children for six months and paints a picture of a loving great-grandmother devoted to the well-being of the youngsters.
"Those children were really dying of misery and in the winter they walked in the rain, looking for shelter or something to eat," Tielingse said. "Many times, Grandma Sarie drove in the rain, looking for them to give them something warm to wear and something to eat. She lived for the children and gave her all to help them."
Tielingse highlighted the children's difficult circumstances, revealing that both parents were struggling with drug addiction and often lived on the streets. She says that grandmother Sarie loved the children very much and often drove in the rain to look for them.
It was precisely because Tielingse also witnessed the children's suffering that she sheltered them for over six months. "Joshua was just a baby. So, I raised him like my own child. The other two weren't difficult kids either."
According to Tielingse, Grandma Sarie even threw a birthday party for one of the children at her house. She added that before the children's deaths, their mother had already been involved in court proceedings for child neglect. The eldest child, Caleb, was reportedly the main witness in the case.
"I say again, I'm not saying what the grandmother did was right, but she couldn't handle them suffering so much anymore," Tielingse emphasised. "Many of the people here know the grandmother — she is a person who gave her all for the children, as well as other less privileged people here."
Following the accident on November 23rd, De Villiers was admitted to the Paarl Psychiatric Unit and discharged on January 5th, 2022. The court will now need to determine the extent to which her mental state influenced her actions on that fateful day in Bainskloof Pass.
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