By OBAKENG MAJE
A man has been sentenced to two life imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court sitting in Upington for rape and murder. This comes after Shane Basson (5) went missing on 5 November 2022 and her lifeless body was discovered in a veld.
Northern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Nelis Prins said the incident took place in Kakamas. Prins said a full-scale search in Alheit and its surroundings was launched, but the missing Shane could not be found.
“On 21 November 2022, the decomposed body of a little girl was found, who was later identified as Shane. Her decomposed body was found in the veld in the vicinity of Alheit. Warrant Officer Clifford Esterhuyse of Kakamas Detectives through investigation, identified the suspect, and Jan Heyns (37) was arrested at his house in Alheit.
“Heyns was remanded in custody in Upington since the date of his arrest. On 14 September 2023, Heyns was found guilty on a charge of rape and murder. He was subsequently sentenced to two life imprisonment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ZF Mgcawu District Commissioner, Major General Thabo Mphuthi, applauded the hard work of Esterhuyse and the team working with him that led to the arrest, conviction, and sentence of the offender.
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