The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that Moyhdian Pangkaeker, the man convicted of the brutal rape and murder of eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk, has died in prison. According to a statement issued by DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, Pangkaeker was found dead in his sleep on 18 November 2025 at the Brandvlei Maximum Centre.
Nxumalo revealed that officials discovered Pangkaeker unresponsive during a routine check. “The Department of Correctional Services confirms the passing of offender Moyhdian Pangkaeker. He died in his sleep and was discovered by officials on November 18, 2025,” the statement read. The department also confirmed that his family had been informed of the incident.
Pangkaeker was serving a life sentence for an extensive list of violent crimes, including seven counts of rape, five counts of assault, five counts of common assault, one count of corpse violation, and the murder of young Tazne. His criminal history, which spanned decades, raised widespread public outrage, particularly after it was revealed that he had been released on parole shortly before abducting and killing Tazne in 2020.
The death of Pangkaeker brings an end to a case that shocked South Africa and ignited national conversations about parole failures, child protection, and the justice system’s handling of repeat offenders. Many South Africans will recall the visceral anger and heartbreak that followed Tazne’s disappearance and the eventual discovery of her body near Worcester. Her tragic fate, at the hands of a man who should never have been released, exposed deep systemic flaws that the government later pledged to address.
In February 2023, Pangkaeker was sentenced to nine life terms—equivalent to 225 years—along with an additional 34.5 years for other offences. Although the sentences formally added up to more than 250 years, they ran concurrently, resulting in an effective 25-year term. The presiding judge made it clear that Pangkaeker should never be eligible for parole, recommending a complete bar on his release for the duration of his life.
For the Van Wyk family, Pangkaeker’s death may bring mixed emotions. While it marks the end of the legal chapter involving the man responsible for their daughter’s gruesome murder, it does not erase the trauma or the years of pain they endured. Public reaction across social media has reflected a similar sentiment—many expressing relief, others questioning the timing and circumstances of his death, and some emphasizing that true justice was denied to Tazne.
As investigations continue into the exact cause of Pangkaeker’s death, the Department of Correctional Services maintains that no foul play is suspected at this stage. His passing will likely reignite debates around offender management, prison conditions, and the long-term impact of violent crime on families and communities.
The memory of Tazne van Wyk continues to stand as a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability of South Africa’s children—and the ongoing need for stronger systems to protect them.
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