Pardon Danhire, a 37-year-old gardener from Zimbabwe, has been handed a 50-year prison sentence after admitting to the murders of Nadine Terblanche and her nine-year-old son, Ruandre Voster.
The Johannesburg High Court, Gauteng Division, sentenced Danhire to 25 years for each murder, with the sentences running concurrently.
On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the ruling, noting that Danhire’s cooperation with law enforcement and display of remorse led to a deviation from the usual life imprisonment minimum.
As part of the sentence, five years were suspended, provided that Danhire testifies truthfully against his alleged accomplice, Frederick Stapelberg, whose trial is set for March 25, 2025.
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Stapelberg reportedly asked Danhire to carry out the murders after promising him R100,000 in return.
Authorities discovered the victims’ bodies on November 27, 2023, after a security company responded to a panic button alert. Reports indicate that Stapelberg may have activated the alarm after an altercation with Danhire over unpaid compensation for the crime.
Following his arrest, Danhire admitted his role in the killings and identified Stapelberg as the instigator. He alleged that Stapelberg orchestrated the murders to gain control of Terblanche’s financial assets.
The NPA has condemned the heinous act, particularly highlighting the devastating loss of a mother and child. With Danhire sentenced, prosecutors are now focusing on ensuring that Stapelberg also faces justice.
