A Western Cape man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for orchestrating the murder of his half-brother, whom he accused of relentless abuse.
Herman Schalk Redelinhuys, 24, received his sentence from the Oudtshoorn Regional Court after pleading guilty to the premeditated murder of Jacques Johannes Liebenberg. His conviction followed a plea and sentencing agreement under Section 105A.
Redelinhuys admitted to hiring two hitmen, Abraham Swartbooi and Adrian Isaacs, to carry out the killing. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, Redelinhuys explained that his half-brother had subjected him to unimaginable abuse for years. Despite repeatedly forgiving him in the hope that the torment would cease, the cycle of suffering continued.
Determined to put an end to the abuse, Redelinhuys approached Swartbooi and Isaacs, detailing his painful experiences and convincing them to help him eliminate Liebenberg. In January 2023, he traveled to Oudtshoorn to pick up the two men, promising them a payment of R750 once the deed was done. They were dropped off on Kammanasie Road in Dysselsdorp, where they waited for the perfect moment to strike.
Later, Redelinhuys collected Liebenberg under the pretense of going for a drive. As planned, Swartbooi flagged down the vehicle, prompting Redelinhuys to stop. The moment Liebenberg was within reach, Swartbooi entered the car and struck him on the head with a hammer. The attack escalated as Liebenberg was repeatedly stabbed. Despite his attempts to flee, he succumbed to his injuries. Once certain that his half-brother was dead, Redelinhuys left the scene, retrieving the two accomplices before making his escape.
The court imposed a 25-year direct imprisonment sentence on Redelinhuys, with 10 years suspended for five years on the condition that he refrains from committing murder or attempted murder during that period. Additionally, he must testify truthfully in the trial against his co-accused.
During the sentencing proceedings, the court was presented with evidence of the severe physical and emotional abuse Redelinhuys endured at the hands of the deceased from the age of four. However, the NPA argued that the murder had devastating consequences beyond the immediate crime. Regional court prosecutor Goulding Hyron highlighted the trauma suffered by Liebenberg’s parents and girlfriend, who was six months pregnant at the time of his death.
Swartbooi and Isaacs are set to appear in court next week as their trial proceeds.
