MPUMALANGA – John Leonard Du Plooy (32) was found guilty and sentenced to additional life imprisonment for murder plus 15 years imprisonment for aggravated robbery by the Roodepoort Regional Court on Monday, 07 November 2022. This follows the murder and aggravated robbery case that was committed in August 2018 in Rooderpoort.

His co-accused, Shaun Oosthuizen (42) was sentenced to four direct life terms imprisonment plus 80 years’ imprisonment by the Pretoria Regional Court on 16 May 2022.

The arrest of the two convicts followed the investigation of multiple murders of four elderly women who were brutally killed at different old age homes around Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces between 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Du Plooy is already serving two life sentences and an additional 30 years’ imprisonment for Murder and Aggravated Robbery cases in Springs and Alberton respectively which were committed in June and September 2018. The charges against him on Mpumalanga case which occurred in July 2018 was withdrawn.

Du Plooy will serve total of three life sentences for Murder and 45 years for aggravated robbery. 

The Hawks’ Provincial Head, Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the investigating team for securing additional substantial life sentence. ‘We appreciate the collaboration between the investigators and judiciary for ensuring that the heartless criminals who tormented the elderly who could not defend for themselves are removed from the community”, she said. She further urged anyone who is responsible for safeguarding of the elderly to take extra precaution as they cannot fight for themselves.

Source: South African Police Service