Three convictions handed down in Fraserburg Regional Court
A seasoned detective stationed in the small Northern Cape town of Fraserburg has been praised for his meticulous police work after three separate cases he investigated resulted in significant prison sentences within the space of two days.
Detective Sergeant Jan de Bruin, attached to the Fraserburg Detective Unit, secured convictions in cases involving two murders and a brutal assault, all heard before the Fraserburg Regional Court on 10 and 11 March 2026. The outcomes were welcomed by authorities in the Namakwa District as a demonstration of dedicated investigative policing in the region.
In the first matter, Lena De Wee, a 31-year-old Fraserburg resident, was convicted of murder and handed a 20-year prison term. The court also declared her unfit to possess a firearm. The conviction stems from an incident on 13 December 2024, when De Wee's life partner arrived home in an intoxicated state and directed verbal abuse at her. De Wee seized a knife and stabbed her partner in the chest. The victim suffered fatal wounds and died at the scene.
In a separate matter heard on the same day, Hendrik Goliath, a 47-year-old man from Asla in Fraserburg, was likewise found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years behind bars. He was also declared unfit to carry a firearm. The case arose from events on 1 September 2023, when Goliath, his life partner, and their child were returning home from a visit. A quarrel broke out between the couple, during which Goliath grabbed a knife and stabbed his partner fatally in the chest. Upon realising that his partner had died, Goliath walked to the local police station, reported what had happened, and handed himself over to authorities.
Boiling water assault draws lengthy sentence
The following day, 11 March 2026, a third case investigated by De Bruin concluded with the conviction of Warren Constable, a 41-year-old man, on multiple charges. Constable was found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. He received an additional four years for obstruction of justice and a further four years for common assault. The court declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
The charges relate to a harrowing attack in the early hours of 30 April 2024. Constable and his partner had returned home when he launched a vicious assault, beating the victim with a kierie — a traditional wooden stick. He then poured boiling water over the victim, inflicting severe burn wounds.
"The meticulous investigative work by Detective Sergeant Jan de Bruin, who was the investigating officer in all three cases, is to be commended," said Namakwa District Commissioner Brigadier Schalk Andrews.
The trio of successful prosecutions has underscored the importance of thorough detective work in ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime in rural communities face the full weight of the law. All three cases involved acts of domestic violence, a scourge that continues to plague communities across the Northern Cape and the country at large.
South Africans living in rural and remote towns often face limited access to policing resources, making these convictions in Fraserburg particularly significant for communities that can feel overlooked by the justice system. The cases highlight the persistent crisis of domestic violence nationwide, with real consequences for families and social stability in small towns. Effective prosecution in such settings may encourage more victims to come forward and could strengthen public trust in local law enforcement going forward.
