Pardon Danhire, a former gardener turned hitman, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the brutal murders of a Gauteng woman, Nadine Terblanche, and her son, Ruandre Voster. The Johannesburg High Court handed down a sentence of 25 years each for both killings. The 37-year-old, who was employed as a gardener by Frederick Stapelberg, the man who allegedly orchestrated the murders, entered into a plea agreement with the state, offering crucial testimony that led to the prosecution of his co-accused.
Danhire’s decision to turn on Stapelberg, who had promised to pay him R100,000 for the murders, was key to unraveling the case. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Stapelberg and Terblanche had been in a romantic relationship. The motive behind the killings was Stapelberg’s desire to inherit Terblanche’s assets and money. In November 2023, the bodies of Terblanche and her son were discovered by a local security company after a panic alert was triggered by Stapelberg. Following a confrontation between the two men over payment, Danhire confessed to the murders, directing authorities to Stapelberg as the mastermind behind the plot.
The court, while handing down the sentences, noted that Danhire’s cooperation with the authorities and his acceptance of responsibility for the murders played a significant role in reducing his punishment. Despite the gravity of his crimes, the court deviated from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, opting instead to impose concurrent sentences of 25 years for each murder. Furthermore, five years of his sentence were suspended on the condition that he testifies truthfully against Stapelberg, whose trial is set to begin on March 25.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane explained that Danhire’s willingness to assist in the investigation and his expression of remorse were crucial factors in the court’s decision to issue a more lenient sentence. As the case moves forward, all eyes will be on Stapelberg’s trial, where the full extent of his involvement in the murders is expected to come to light.
