A Johannesburg gardener, Pardon Danhire (37), has been handed a 25-year sentence for the murders of Nadine Terblanche and her son, Ruandre Voster, by the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 19th February 2025, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that Danhire received his sentence after reaching a plea and sentence agreement with the prosecution.
While the sentences for each murder were 25 years, they will run concurrently. Furthermore, five years of his sentence have been suspended, contingent on his truthful testimony against his co-accused, Frederick Stapelberg, whose trial is scheduled for 25th March 2025.
The court chose not to impose the minimum life sentence, acknowledging Danhire’s cooperation with the authorities, his acceptance of responsibility, and his demonstrated remorse.
Danhire, employed as a gardener by Stapelberg, was allegedly contracted by him for the sum of R100,000 to kill his girlfriend, Ms Terblanche, and her son.
Their bodies were discovered by a local security firm on 27th November 2023. The security company had been alerted via a panic button, reportedly activated by Stapelberg following an alleged dispute with Danhire regarding the promised payment.
Following his arrest, Danhire confessed to the police, identifying Stapelberg as the individual who had hired him to commit the murders, allegedly motivated by gaining access to Ms Terblanche’s assets and/or finances upon her death.
The NPA’s statement concluded, “The NPA frowns upon the senselessness k!lling of women and children, and will now focus on the trial against Stapelberg with the aim of ensuring that justice prevails.”
