Justice Served: Gardener’s 50-Year Sentence in Zimbabwe
On February 18, 2025, the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, sentenced 37-year-old gardener Pardon Danhire to 25 years in prison for each of the murders of 40-year-old Nadine Terblanche and her 9-year-old son, Ruandre Vorster.
The sentences will run concurrently, effectively resulting in a 25-year imprisonment. Additionally, five years of the sentence were suspended on the condition that Danhire testifies truthfully against his co-accused, Frederick Stapelberg, whose trial is set to commence on March 25, 2025.
The case dates back to November 2023, when the bodies of Terblanche and her son were discovered in their Alberton home. Investigations revealed that Stapelberg, who was in a relationship with Terblanche, allegedly hired Danhire, his gardener, to carry out the murders with the promise of a R100,000 payment. Following a dispute over the payment, Danhire confessed to the crimes and implicated Stapelberg as the mastermind.
In a plea agreement with the state, Danhire cooperated fully, leading the court to deviate from the prescribed life sentence. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane stated that the court acknowledged Danhire’s remorse and cooperation in its sentencing decision.