A 71-year-old South African woman, Susana “Sarie” De Villiers, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the deaths of her three great-grandchildren in a vehicle crash in the Western Cape province.

According to South African news outlet Nova News, the Worcester Regional Court handed down the sentence on Thursday after De Villiers pleaded guilty to three counts of murder in March 2025.

The victims were identified as Caleb Booysen, eight, Gradwell Booysen, five, and Joshua Booysen, 18 months old.

The incident occurred on November 20, 2021, when De Villiers was expected to drive the children home after they visited her and other relatives in Wellington. They never reached their destination.

Reports indicated that road construction was ongoing along Bainskloof Pass, where motorists were required to stop at designated traffic-control points. Witnesses reportedly said De Villiers drove past the control points without stopping and continued beyond a closed barrier.

Traffic officials stopped other vehicles to prevent a possible collision. When her vehicle failed to arrive at another checkpoint, a patrol team was sent to investigate.

Rescuers later found the vehicle had left the road and plunged down the pass. Caleb and Gradwell died at the scene, while Joshua died from his injuries shortly afterwards. Bad weather prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching the location, forcing rescuers to carry the toddler back up to the road.

De Villiers survived the crash but sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs and a neck injury.

The court imposed a 20-year sentence for each murder, but ordered the terms to run concurrently, meaning she will serve 20 years in total. It also declared her unfit to possess a firearm.

During the sentencing proceedings, magistrate Clifton Maseti withdrew her release on warning and ordered that she be committed to prison.