By BAKANG MOKOTO
June 2025- A man (55) sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his wife. On 15 April 2022, the accused, Charles Matthys beat his wife, Annamary Matthys (40) to death at their home and buried her in a shallow grave behind a school in Calvinia.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said the police were alerted by a community member. Kock said the husband was found with blood-stained clothes and subsequently arrested.
“On 27 June 2025, Matthys was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, one year for assault common, and 6 months for defeating the ends of justice. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended Detective Sergeant Jaco Swartz from Calvinia Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for his meticulous investigation that led to the outstanding Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) sentence. Otola also extended her appreciation for the collaboration with the community and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), state prosecutor, advocate Neshmi Pillay for their role in ensuring that justice is served and to eradicate GBVF from our communities.
“If you see something, say something,” she said.
The Guardian 