Sarie de Villiers, also known as Susana “Sarie” de Villiers and aged around 69, was convicted of the murders of her three great-grandchildren in the Western Cape.
The incident took place on 20 November 2021 at Bainskloof Pass between Wellington and Ceres. De Villiers drove a vehicle carrying Caleb Booysen, aged 8, Gradwell Booysen, aged 5, and Joshua Booysen, aged 2, approximately 80 metres down a steep mountainside. The three children died in the crash, while De Villiers survived.
On the day of the incident, the children had been visiting De Villiers, her husband Ivan de Villiers, a lawyer in Wellington, and their grandfather Carl Smit. The children had been in foster care for approximately six months prior due to substance abuse issues involving their parents.
De Villiers drove away with the children in the afternoon. She proceeded through roadworks barriers on the pass and drove the vehicle off the road at the crest, where concrete barriers and stones were present.
In subsequent court proceedings in the regional court in Worcester, De Villiers pleaded guilty to the three counts of murder. She stated that she acted impulsively to end the children’s lives and her own. Her motivation was to spare them further suffering and abuse linked to their family situation. She described her emotional state as involving despair, frustration, hopelessness, and desperation, with a belief that there was no end in sight to the children’s suffering.
De Villiers indicated that there was no prior planning. The decision was made impulsively around 20 kilometres from home when she saw a gap in the barriers. She acknowledged that the acts were committed with intent but maintained that they were wrong and driven by severe emotional stress that impaired her full understanding and control at the time.
Psychiatric evaluations were ordered. An initial report from Paarl Hospital indicated that she was accountable for her actions but had diminished capacity. A subsequent report from a panel at Valkenberg Hospital, dated 20 June 2024 and submitted to court on 11 November 2024, found that she was not mentally ill, was fit to stand trial, and that her actions appeared purposeful though impulsive. The report concluded that the actions did not result from mental illness, though family circumstances may have contributed to her emotional state.
The state rejected claims of diminished responsibility. De Villiers pleaded guilty on 28 March 2025. A trial on aspects including diminished capacity was scheduled for 14 May 2025 to hear expert witnesses.
De Villiers was hospitalised for several weeks after the incident, initially in the psychiatric section of Paarl Hospital before further evaluation at Valkenberg Hospital. She was represented by advocate Sakkie Maartens from the firm of Sarien Engelbrecht.
By June 2026, De Villiers had been found guilty on the murder charges relating to the three children. Sentencing details were not specified in available reports at that stage.
Bafana Bafana Suffer 2-0 Defeat to Mexico in 2026 FIFA World Cup Opener Amid Multiple Red Cards
On Thursday, June 11, 2026, South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez gave the home side a commanding victory in Group A. The match was notable for three red cards, including two for South African players, which significantly impacted the contest.
South Africa, managed by Hugo Broos, adopted a compact 5-3-2 formation aimed at defensive solidity and counter-attacking opportunities. Despite this setup, Mexico controlled much of the proceedings, with Bafana Bafana struggling to create clear threats against the hosts.
The first major incident occurred shortly after halftime. In the 49th minute, Sphephelo Sithole was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Mexico’s Brian Gutiérrez. This reduced South Africa to 10 players. The dismissal was widely viewed as straightforward, as it denied a goal-scoring opportunity.
Themba Zwane, the experienced Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, entered as a substitute in the 61st minute. His time on the pitch lasted only about 23 minutes before another controversial moment unfolded.
In the 84th minute, during a phase where South Africa were pushing forward and had possession near the Mexican box, Zwane became involved in an off-the-ball incident with Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado. As Zwane attempted to maneuver past the defender, his hand made contact with Alvarado’s face. The referee, Wilton Pereira Sampaio of Brazil, did not initially penalize the action. However, following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, Sampaio was advised to check the pitchside monitor. After reviewing the footage, he issued a straight red card to Zwane for violent conduct.
Replays and additional angles showed Zwane swinging or swiping his arm, with contact to the opponent’s face. According to the Laws of the Game, such actions involving contact to the face or head can be classified as violent conduct warranting a red card, regardless of intent or force in some interpretations. Bodycam footage from the referee later provided clearer evidence of the contact.
Zwane appeared surprised by the decision, reportedly reacting with confusion and comments captured by lip readers such as questioning the call. South Africa finished the match with nine players. In stoppage time, Mexico’s captain César Montes also received a red card, though details of his dismissal were less central to the main controversies.
The result left Bafana Bafana with a challenging start in the group stage. Zwane is set to miss South Africa’s next match against the Czech Republic due to the automatic one-game suspension for a red card. Further sanctions from FIFA’s disciplinary committee could extend his absence.
Hugo Broos commented post-match that while the team had to accept the referee’s decision on Zwane, he viewed it as “too soft” for a red card, noting that the Mexican player appeared to be blocking his player. Broos emphasized the need for discipline moving forward.
The match highlighted the intense physicality and the role of VAR in high-stakes World Cup games. Referee Sampaio’s decisions, particularly the VAR-involved red for Zwane, sparked widespread discussion across football circles. Some analyses described the call as harsh given the context of a tussle during active play, while others upheld it as correct under the rules for any striking of an opponent in the face.
This was one of the rare instances of multiple red cards in a World Cup opening fixture, with three players dismissed in total. South Africa will now look to regroup for their remaining group fixtures, where maintaining a full squad and securing points will be critical.
FIFA’s disciplinary regulations for the tournament also mean potential financial implications for cards, with reported fines for yellow and red cards, adding another layer for teams to manage player conduct.
The events at Estadio Azteca underscored the challenges facing Bafana Bafana in their World Cup return and the scrutiny that accompanies every decision in the tournament’s opening matches.
