Jerobejin van Wyk murder: Killer sentenced, but Klawer community urges authorities to investigate cold cases

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS OF MURDER

CAPE TOWN - Justice has finally been served in the case against convicted Klawer killer, Daniel Smit.

Last week, the High Court sitting in Vredendal sentenced the 58-year-old man to life imprisonment for the murder of 13-year-old Jerobejin van Wyk.

Smit, who was taught how to kill as a member of an occult group during his youth, admitted to breaking the 13-year-old's neck after knocking him over with his bakkie and then offering him food.

The murder took place in Smit's home in February 2022, after he had accused the boy and a friend of stealing fruit off his property.

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The former train driver was also sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping, 15 years for attempted murder, three years for defeating the ends of justice, and five years for violating a corpse.

The sentences will run concurrently, and Smit will not be eligible for parole until he's served two-thirds of his sentence.

In a letter to the court, Smit apologised and asked for forgiveness. But Van Wyk’s mother, Triesa, says she carries the pain of her son's brutal murder every single day, and she will never be able to forgive Smit.

The courtroom was packed with Jerobejin's loved ones and members of the sleepy West Coast town as sentencing was handed down.

One of them, Mathilda Bains, who is also the Van Wyk family's spokesperson, said she too doubted the Klawer community could ever really heal – at least, not until two cold cases are solved.

RESIDENTS STILL DISAPPEARING 

"This is not an isolated case, because two of our children vanished and up to now, there is no trace of them. So, up to now, the community, I don't think they are completely healed, they are still waiting and there are a few unanswered questions," Bains told EWN.

Jeneva Diergal was last seen on the 25 January 2019, when her mother left her with her aunt in Donkerhoek, in Klawer. The girl, who was 8 years old at the time, was wearing a pink top and black tights.

Nine months later, on the 28 October, 28-year-old Janine Bottom disappeared without a trace.

"Now, for us in that community, children are vanishing and nothing happens. There is no trace! How can we heal?", asked Bains.

Some parts of Jerobejin's body were found in a drain on Smit's property two days after the child was reported missing.

Other parts were found burnt in the fireplace, and months later, more human remains were found in an oil drum by the new homeowner while he was cleaning the property.

Gutted by that tragic killing, speculation and rumours began swirling, and angry residents demanded that police investigate a link between Smit and the disappearances of Janine and little Jeneva.

The Rural and Farmworkers Organisation's Billy Claasen: "The police must do their work; they must investigate this thing of Jeneva Diergal and Janine Bottom very thoroughly."

'TAKE IT UP WITH POLICE'

The National Prosecuting Authority's Eric Ntabazalila weighed in on this aspect while speaking to the media after sentencing last week.

"There are no pending cases against him [Smit]. He has got some old cases of assault that happened more than 10 years ago... The court has considered him a first offender in this case; there are no cases against him now. We have heard these rumours from the community, but I think people need to take them up with police and ask for more investigations to be done."

In response to a recent media enquiry, police confirmed both missing persons cases were still under investigation, with no new developments to report.

They're appealing to anyone with information to come forward.