Tazne van Wyk's killer dies in prison

Eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk's rapist and murderer has died in prison. 

The man was handed nine life sentences in 2023 for abducting, raping, and killing the Elsies River girl in February 2020, as well as other crimes, mostly of a sexual nature against minors and relatives.

For this reason, EWN is not naming him. 

Correctional Services said the child killer died in his sleep and was discovered by officials at Brandvlei Prison earlier on Tuesday. 

Of his 21 convictions, four relate to Tazne van Wyk, whose body was found in a stormwater pipe along the N1 highway near Worcester.

The others include eight counts of child rape, sexual assault and the sexual exploitation of children, several counts of the assault of children, kidnapping, incest, the desecration of a corpse and absconding from parole. 

Described as a danger to society, a monster who cannot be tolerated in a civilised community and a repetitive offender who targeted young girls for sexual pleasure, the judge labelled him deceitful, abusive, cunning, and cruel.