Nelspruit granny stabbed to death in smash and grab shortly after arriving in Cape Town

A grandmother from Nelspruit was stabbed to death shortly after leaving Cape Town International Airport on Friday, as she and her husband were en route to visit their only grandchild, Daily Voice has reported.

Karin van Aardt and her husband, Herman, flew from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Cape Town that afternoon to attend their granddaughter’s eighth birthday celebration in Vredenburg, where their son, Ruan, lives.

After hiring a car at the airport, the couple headed towards the N7 when tragedy struck.

At the corner of Jakkalsvlei Avenue and Jakes Gerwel Drive in Bonteheuwel, an assailant broke Karin’s window, stabbed her repeatedly with a knife, and attempted to steal her handbag.

According to reporting by Lowvelder, Herman sped off, stopped another motorist, and asked for directions to the nearest hospital. The motorist led them there.

Van Aardt, a 64-year-old former teacher, was rushed to Netcare N1 City Hospital but died of her injuries.

Her brother-in-law, Uli Tumpelman, told Lowvelder: “She said at 5.45 p.m. that they had landed safely, but at 7 p.m. Herman said we had to pray — there was trouble.

“She was just a grandmother who wanted to celebrate her only grandchild’s birthday.”

Tumpelman added that emergency personnel at the hospital attempted to revive her but later said her heart had stopped before arrival and she had lost too much blood.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the incident, stating: “Goodwood police registered a murder case for investigation following an incident on Friday, 5 December 2025, on the corner of Jakkalsvlei and Jakes Gerwel Drive, in which an adult female was stabbed and fatally injured.

“According to reports, the victim and her husband were sitting in traffic when an unknown male attempted to rob them. The victim sustained stab wounds to the chest and was taken to a medical facility for treatment, where she later died.

“The motive for the attack is robbery. The suspect fled the scene and has yet to be arrested.”

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.

The case has been transferred to the Nyanga police for further investigation.

IOL News