In a case that has both shocked and stirred sympathy across South Africa, 69-year-old Sarie de Villiers from Wellington has admitted to causing the deaths of her three great-grandchildren in a deliberate car crash. The incident took place on November 23, 2021, when De Villiers drove her vehicle off an 80-meter cliff in the Bainskloof Pass, killing Joshua (18 months), Gradwill (5), and Caleb (8) Booysen. While the children died instantly, De Villiers survived the crash and has since faced both legal proceedings and public scrutiny.
The Tragic Event
De Villiers had been returning the children to their home in Smartie Town, Paarl, after a weekend together. Rather than taking the usual route, she turned toward the Bainskloof Pass, bypassing multiple roadblocks. It was there that she intentionally veered off the mountain pass. Emergency services recovered the bodies of the children, and De Villiers was hospitalized and later admitted to the Paarl Psychiatric Unit. She was discharged in January 2022.
Court Proceedings and Mental Health Issues
On March 28, 2025, De Villiers pleaded guilty to three counts of murder in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court. However, her plea was not accepted by the National Prosecuting Authority due to claims of diminished mental responsibility. As a result, a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf, pending psychiatric evaluation.
The trial was postponed until May 14 to allow the defense team time to secure expert psychiatric testimony. A psychiatric report already submitted to the court sheds light on De Villiers’ state of mind. According to the report, she was overcome by emotional despair, reportedly telling a psychiatrist, “I can’t handle the children’s misery anymore. I feel guilty; they have nothing left.”
A Story of Love, Desperation, and Circumstance
While her actions are undeniably tragic, those close to De Villiers have offered insight into the overwhelming burden she carried. Annalise Tielingse, the sister of the children’s maternal grandmother, spoke of the family’s long-standing struggles. The children’s parents, both suffering from drug addiction and homelessness, left them in unstable and dangerous conditions.
Tielingse, who cared for the children for over six months, described De Villiers as an incredibly loving and dedicated great-grandmother. “She would drive through the rain just to find the children and bring them food and clothing,” she recalled. De Villiers even hosted birthday parties for the children and provided them with stability in the absence of their parents.
Caleb, the eldest, was reportedly set to testify against his mother in a child neglect case, adding to the emotional weight De Villiers may have felt. “I’m not saying what she did was right,” Tielingse said, “but she couldn’t watch them suffer anymore.”
Reflection and Community Response
The case has prompted deep reflection within the community and beyond. It has exposed cracks in the child welfare system, raised questions about mental health support for caregivers, and challenged societal judgments of mercy and justice. As the legal process continues, many are left wondering what more could have been done to support a woman who seemed to carry the weight of the world for the children she loved.
The upcoming trial will be closely watched, not just for its verdict, but for the broader implications it may have on how society views and supports those caring for vulnerable children in desperate circumstances.