A 17-year-old has been sentenced to an effective 25 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape, murder and robbery of a 79-year-old woman on her farm in the Klein Karoo.
The Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town imposed the sentence on Tuesday following a plea and sentencing agreement for the brutal attack on Valerie Enziar at Doring Kloof Farm in Van Wyksdorp, on 14 July 2025.
The court sentenced the minor to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for rape, 25 years’ direct imprisonment for murder, and 15 years’ direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The sentences for rape and robbery will run concurrently with the murder sentence, resulting in an effective 25-year term.
According to the accused’s plea explanation, he deliberately targeted Enziar knowing she lived alone on the farm. He entered the property unlawfully, assaulted the elderly woman and raped her while she was incapacitated. He then killed her using a metal chain before stealing a laptop, cellphone, purse and handbag from the farmhouse.
The teenager transported the stolen items off the farm and used Enziar’s bank card to make a purchase before distributing some of the property to others. Police arrested him and recovered the stolen items after he led officers to various locations.
In arguing for the sentence, Advocate Rene Uys emphasised Enziar’s vulnerability as an elderly woman living alone in a rural farming area. The prosecutor told the court the accused demonstrated calculated conduct and direct intent, reflecting a blatant disregard for human life and the rule of law.
The court heard the teenager had prior interactions with the criminal justice system, including allegations of theft, animal cruelty and other violent conduct. He had previously been assessed for criminal capacity and had been the subject of community concern due to repeated alleged offending and intimidation of vulnerable residents.
Despite the accused’s age, the court found the seriousness and brutality of the offences warranted a lengthy custodial sentence. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence, which reflects the organisation’s firm stance against violent crime targeting women and vulnerable members of society.
Western Cape Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Adrian Mopp said: “This sentence affirms the justice system’s resolve to hold perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable. We hope it brings some measure of closure to the family of the deceased and the affected community.”
