On Friday, the 6th of April 2012 three members of the Steenkamp family from the farm called Naauwhoek, 8 kilometres from Griekwastad town centre were brutally murdered.
The perpetrator would be the last person anyone would have accused.
That April afternoon a bakkie pulled up in front of the Griekwastad police station in a cloud of dust and a young man stepped out. His brown hair was tousled, and he still wore braces on his teeth. He rushed into the police station and before the officers could address him, he dropped to his knees in front of them screaming, “You must come. They’ve been shot. They’re all dead.” The blood soaked boy was 15-year-old Don Steenkamp and he was referring to his mother, father and sister.
Father Don (44), mother Christel (43) and daughter, Marthella (14) were dead.
The impact of the murder of the Steenkamps on the Griekwastad community was immense. Not only had their murders brought an evil far too close to home but the family was well-known and well-loved.
Two days before his 18th birthday Don Steenkamp was sentenced to a total of 76 years in prison. The sentences, however, will be served concurrently so essentially he will only serve 20 years in prison as in South Africa a minor younger than sixteen cannot be sentenced to more than 20 years in jail regardless of the severity of his crime. Don was 15 years and 8 months old when he committed the murders.
To purchase Jacques Steenkamp’s book: The Griekwastad Murders
SHOWNOTES:
Host: Nicole Engelbrecht
Producer: Nicole Engelbrecht
Music: Snippet from Prime Circle’s Evidence
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