Northern Cape teen jailed for stabbing 13-year-old to death over mielie meal

A 19-YEAR-old accused was sentenced in the Petrusville Regional Court, sitting in De Aar, to 20 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the murder of a 13-year-old boy.

The incident took place on May 25, when a shop owner entrusted the accused, Chris Blaauw, with two five-kilogram bags of mielie meal.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said Blaauw instructed the 13-year-old boy and his friends to deliver the items to his home.

"When the mielie meal was not delivered, he went in search of the children and later found them at a dumping site. Upon questioning the deceased about the missing mielie meal, the boy indicated that he had taken it home as his family needed food. 

“Blaauw then produced a knife and stabbed the unarmed child in the chest. He fled to his home thereafter and informed his mother of what had happened, leaving the boy bleeding at the dumping site, where he later succumbed to his injuries."

Senokoatsane added that the boy’s body was discovered by his friends the following morning.

"They became worried when he had not returned home."

He stated that State prosecutor Kagisho Phagana Marame presented a victim impact statement facilitated by court preparation officer Trott Manghana, detailing the deceased’s grandmother’s profound emotional devastation and the harm the murder had caused the family.

"The prosecutor highlighted that the deceased was defenceless, posed no threat, and was abandoned after being stabbed.

"In mitigation of sentence, the court considered the personal circumstances of the accused, including his youth, status as a first-time offender, and his guilty plea, which spared the family further trauma and avoided a lengthy trial. 

“These factors persuaded the court to deviate from the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment and impose a sentence of 20 years’ direct imprisonment."

Senokoatsane added that the NPA welcomed the sentence, which demonstrated the seriousness with which the courts treated violent crimes against children.

"The NPA remains committed to securing justice for victims and protecting society’s most vulnerable. Human life is precious, and the NPA will continue to pursue such cases vigorously to ensure accountability and deter future offenders," he said.