Man to spend 20 years in jail for fatal stabbing

A 26-year-old accused, Piet Van Wyk, was sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment in the Upington regional court for the premeditated murder of Gerezade Bezuidenhoudt, 26, with whom he grew up as brothers in the same household.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the incident took place on March 16 2024, while the two men were drinking with friends at their family home.

"An argument broke out where Van Wyk armed himself with a bread knife, and the deceased picked up a spade. When the knife broke during the confrontation, Van Wyk left the scene but later returned armed with two larger kitchen knives. He stabbed Bezuidenhoudt in the chest while the deceased was still holding the spade." 

He stated that according to the post-mortem, the knife penetrated 100 millimetres into the chest cavity, piercing the right ventricle of the heart.

"Bezuidenhoudt collapsed and died on the way to the hospital in the arms of his sister-in-law." 

Senokoatsane indicated that during cross-examination, Van Wyk admitted that he was not under attack at the time of the fatal stabbing.

"He related that he had time to reflect before returning with new weapons. The court rejected his claim of self-defence, finding his actions deliberate and unlawful.

"The state argued that the murder was calculated and cold-blooded, with the accused showing no remorse. The court agreed, noting that Van Wyk had ample opportunity to diffuse the conflict but instead escalated it."

Senokoatsane added that the deceased’s mother and sister-in-law, through victim impact statements, described the deep trauma that they continued to endure, the financial strain of caring for the deceased’s children and the recurring emotional pain of reliving the incident.

Senior state prosecutor Christopher Shaun Bouman commended the teamwork between the prosecution and the court preparation service.

“Their dedication ensured that the true accounts of the witnesses were effectively presented before the court. This case highlights the dangers when individuals assume the role of victim, judge, and executioner. The sentence sends a clear message that vigilante justice will not be tolerated.”

The NPA welcomed the sentence as a clear demonstration of the justice system’s commitment to protecting communities and holding violent offenders accountable.

"The sanctity of human life remains paramount, and the NPA will continue to pursue these matters vigorously to deter would-be offenders," Senokoatsane said.