Kimberley - The family of John Langeveldt, who hacked his sister and nephew to death with an axe, have reacted with shock to the “lenient” sentence that was handed down to him last week.
The traumatised family are still unable to pinpoint the exact reason that triggered the attack, but have vowed to kill Langeveldt, 53, if he ever returns to terrorise them.
They described the axe murderer as a cold and heartless person, whom they wanted nothing more to do with.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman, Mashudu Malabi, said that Acting Northern Cape High Court Judge, Lawrence Lever, sentenced Langeveldt to an effective 15 years each for the murders of Hendrika Langeveldt, 39, and her son Ferdinand Langeveldt, 19, as well as assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
He was found not guilty for the attempted murder of his mother, Miena Langeveldt, 79, who was seriously injured when she tried to intervene.
Langeveldt’s 17-year-old niece, Hendrietta, was the only family member who managed to escape the savage blows.
Malabi indicated that the State did not intend appealing the sentence.
She explained that while the case had been set down for the whole week, sentencing took place a day earlier on Thursday, as the court had completed all the proceedings early.
Twenty-two wounds were inflicted on Hendrika’s body and she was also disembowelled, while her son was almost decapitated.
Miena Langeveldt stated that she no longer loved her son and found it difficult to forgive him for the hurt and pain he caused to the family.
Charles Langeveldt calculated that his older brother would only spend seven-and-a-half years in prison before he would be eligible for parole.
“He was already convicted for the murder of two other people before he killed my sister and nephew. I have no doubt that he will kill again upon his release,” said Charles.
“I know that he is looking for revenge and that he will turn his anger on us. I cannot take that chance and will kill him with a pair of pliers – he must die a slow and painful death.”
He added that he was willing to spend time in prison, if it meant that his family was protected from his brother.
“I will tattoo the date that he was sentenced on my arm – October 23 2014 – as reminder of how John smiled in the court room where he was sentenced. While I do not believe in using violence, circumstances drive you do certain things, especially when the justice system has failed you.”
Charles was baffled that the family was neither informed why the sentencing took place a day earlier than expected, nor provided with any reasons.
“The case was set down for the whole week and we were planning to drive through to Kimberley from Douglas on Friday in order to save travelling expenses. It also seems as if not all of the 33 witnesses were called to testify.”
Hendrietta clearly remembers how her uncle calmly walked into the room with the axe behind his back.
“I already started praying when I heard the sound of metal scraping on the floor, when he went to fetch the axe.
“I still have nightmares and I have not returned to the house where it happened. It is only by God’s grace that I was spared and that I managed to run away, to call for help. The whole thing still feels unreal, as if it was all a bad dream.
“He (John) means nothing to me. Even if he has to beg for forgiveness for robbing me of my mother and brother, I will never give it. I miss them everyday – they meant everything to me.
“I never want to see John again and if I do, I will take vengeance for their deaths. My anger has cured me of my fear, yet my tears for my mother and brother will never dry up.”
She related how the accused was abusive towards her mother.
“He would pick a fight for no apparent reason and took his frustrations out on her. We didn’t want him to live with us.”
She added that John had threatened to kill her a few days before the incident.
“I made sure that I never fell asleep before he did.”
Hendrietta placed a bottle on her mother’s grave with a message inside in remembrance of her mother’s 40th birthday earlier this month.
Maria Matthews stated that they were left with more questions than answers, upon conclusion of the trial.
“My brother poses a grave danger to the family. He alone knows why he acted in such a cruel and violent manner and took the lives of people that cared for him.
“If he is released on parole, he is not welcome at our homes and we do not want him to stay near us. He will never change, even if he spends time behind bars.”
She indicated that her sister (Hendrika) and their mother (Miena) provided for John, as he did not have a fixed income.
“They were the ones who put food on the table, even though they relied on a pension and social grant. Till the day I die, I will never be able to absolve him for callously taking two innocent lives.”
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