WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS SOME GRAPHIC DETAILS OF CHILD MURDER

JOHANNESBURG – The mother of murdered Klawer teenager Jerobejin van Wyk says she will finally start picking up the pieces, following the conviction of her child’s killer.

Daniel Smith was sentenced to life in prison by the Vredendal High Court on Monday for the murder of Jerobejin in February 2022.

The 58-year-old, who learned about it as a member of an occult group in his youth, admitted breaking the teenager’s neck, after running him over with his bakkie and then offering him food .

The murder took place at Smit’s home in the sleepy west coast town of Klawer in February 2022, after he accused Van Wyk and a friend of stealing fruit from his property.

Triesa van Wyk said the death of her child had a devastating impact on their family and she could never forgive Smit for taking her only son away in such a brutal way.

“It breaks my heart to this day. I will never forgive him. He left a pain that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Smit was also sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping, 15 years for attempted murder, three years for defeating the course of justice and five years for trespassing on a corpse.

The sentences will be concurrent and the former train driver will only be eligible for parole after serving two thirds of his sentence.

In a letter to the court, Smit apologized, asked for forgiveness and offered his bakkie to the grieving mother.