Action Society had reason to celebrate at the Paarl Regional court today as the two men who killed Mietjie Ontong were both handed down sentences of 25 years for murder and another 15 years for robbery.
Both killers have a history of crime, which include housebreaking and robbery.
“This is a case that highlights the problem of serious crimes by reoffenders. Often, these offenders get out on parole, just to reoffend. It is unclear to us if this is indeed what happened in Mietjie’s case, but we wouldn’t be surprised. Criminals should be kept off our streets,” said Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm.
Mietjie was murdered in cold blood in her home in Hermon on 11 October 2023. Her murder shook her community as the 63-year-old was described as a pillar of strength in the Hermon area. Her murder outraged the people of Hermon who stood outside court with placards bearing her name and the words “not in my town” written on them when the case first went to court. Action Society was mandated to oversee the case on 18 October 2023 and the uphill battle for justice began.
An eyewitness account of the events on the day of her murder described a young boy running out of a house shouting for help in stifled screams. His hands were bound together by the cord of a cell phone charger, and his mouth was stuffed with cloth and clothing items to muffle his cries for help. Upon further investigation, the body of Mietjie was found half under a bed, with strangulation marks around her neck.
Palm commended the community’s role in Mietjie’s case. “Mietjie’s story is a perfect illustration of the difference a strong community can make. The Hermon community stood up on her behalf. They refused to give up or lose faith in justice. We believe that they were an integral part in getting the justice that Mietjie deserves.”
