By BAKANG MOKOTO
26 March 2025- A man Jan Maarman (60) was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment by the Springbok Regional Court, for the attempted murder of his former girlfriend, Lena Swartbooi (46), in Bergsig, Springbok. Maarman and Swartbooi, who have a son (13) together, were previously in a cohabiting relationship.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said, however, their relationship ended when Maarman engaged in multiple affairs. Senokoatsane said on 13 August 2024, after an argument over her new relationship, the accused viciously attacked Swartbooi, stabbing her multiple times on her face, arms, hands, back, and legs.
“He left her with severe injuries, including fractures to her face and permanent loss of hand function. After the attack, Maarman left her for dead, returned home, prepared for work, and proceeded with his day as if nothing had happened.
“Swartbooi was later rescued by bystanders and rushed to Dr Izak van Niekerk Hospital in Springbok before being transferred to Upington Hospital for emergency surgeries. A J88 medical report confirmed that she had suffered life-threatening injuries and would never be able to work again due to the permanent damage inflicted,” he said.
Senokoatsane further said this case underscores the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence and Femicides (GBV&F) and ensuring that perpetrators face the full might of the law. He added the successful prosecution of these cases provides some justice and closure to the victims and their families and removes violent criminals from our streets.
During sentencing, the court noted that Maarman committed this crime while on parole for a previous murder conviction and that his previous victim was also a former partner. The state prosecutor, Basil Kock, emphasized that the accused had shown no remorse and that the crime was driven by possessiveness and an intent to exert control over the victim’s life.
Kock argued for a sentence exceeding the prescribed minimum of 20 years, given the heinous nature of the crime and its devastating impact on the victim.
In her ruling, Magistrate Numfeneko Mbalo stated that this was a clear case of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), where the accused sought to eliminate his former partner simply because she had moved on. Mbalo ultimately sentenced Maarman to 22 years imprisonment, with the sentence set to run concurrently with the remaining term of his previous murder conviction, as his parole had been revoked.
The Guardian 