Warning: The following article contains details of a graphic nature that may upset sensitive readers

A 17-year-old has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars for the brutal murder and rape of an elderly female farm owner in the Little Karoo.

The accused was earlier convicted on charges of rape, murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances following a plea and sentencing agreement in relation to the brutal attack on 79-year-old Valerie Enzer of Doring Kloof Farm, in Van Wyk’s dorp, which occurred on 14 July 2025.

The Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town yesterday, 2 June, sentenced the accused to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for rape, 25 years’ direct imprisonment for murder, and 15 years’ direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000.

In his plea explanation, the accused admitted that he targeted the deceased, knowing she lived alone on her farm.

He entered the property unlawfully, assaulted her, and thereafter raped her while she was incapacitated.

The accused then murdered her using a metal chain and proceeded to steal various items from the farmhouse, including a laptop, cellphone, purse, and handbag.

He also used Enzer’s bank card to make a small purchase before distributing some of the stolen property to others.

In arguing for the sentence, Advocate Rene Uys emphasised the vulnerability of Enzer as an elderly woman living alone in a rural farming area.

The court was also informed that the accused demonstrated calculated conduct and direct intent, reflecting a blatant disregard for human life and the rule of law.

The court further considered the accused’s prior interactions with the criminal justice system, including allegations of theft, animal cruelty, and other violent conduct.

It was placed on record that he had previously been assessed for criminal capacity and had been the subject of community concern due to repeated alleged offending and intimidation of vulnerable residents.

The court found that, despite the accused’s age, the seriousness and brutality of the offences warranted a lengthy custodial sentence.

The Western Cape Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Adrian Mopp, has welcomed the sentence, saying it reflects the NPA’s firm stance against violent crime, particularly offences targeting women and vulnerable members of society.

“This sentence affirms the justice system’s resolve to hold perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable. We hope it brings some measure of closure to the family of the deceased and the affected community.”