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For IOL Reporter 
1 hour ago
Durban – A mother and daughter who conspired and murdered her family’s electrician have been incarcerated by the Eastern Cape Superior Court for 35 and 30 years, respectively, for their role in the crime.
On Wednesday, Judge Elna Revelas sentenced Christine Helena Russouw (58) and Chantell Russouw (38) respectively to 15 and 20 years in prison for the murder of their family electrician, Petrus Hendrik Scholtz.
Christine and Chantall each received an additional 15 years for theft.
It comes after the Eastern Cape Superior Court incarcerated Christine’s son Wayne Russouw (34) to life in prison for his role in the murder.
His friend and accomplice, Ronald Swartz (27) was sentenced to 25 years for his participation in the crime.
According to the evidence presented in court, Christine and her children, Chantell and Wayne Albert Russouw, remained together at Kabega Park.
In early July 2018, Wayne began looking for someone to help him murder his family’s electrician, Scholtz, because he wanted his tools of the trade.
On the night of July 16, 2018, Wayne fetched Swartz from Central and took him home.
Wayne and Swartz had known each other for six years and when they were at the house, Wayne explained his plan to Swartz.
Christine called Scholtz and asked him to go fix the geyser.
Scholtz arrived, fixed the geyser, and left.
The next day, Swartz, Wayne, Christine, and Chantell planned the assassination and Wayne promised to pay Swartz R10,000 for his role in the assassination.
Wayne then called Scholtz to come get his pay for the work he had done the day before.
Scholtz arrived shortly after 8 p.m. and Swartz grabbed him from behind while Wayne hit him over the head with a truncheon until he lost consciousness.
Wayne tied up Scholtz and along with Swartz they placed him in the freezer chest. Christine cleaned the kitchen floor that was covered in blood.
Wayne and his sister Chantell went and bought food at a fast food establishment with money that Wayne had stolen from Scholtz’s wallet.
The next day, July 18, 2018, the brothers drove Scholtz’s Isuzu bakkie to Cash Crusaders, where they sold the deceased’s electrical equipment.
During the night, Wayne and Swartz removed Scholtz’s body from the freezer chest and loaded it onto the Isuzu bakkie.
They drove with Chantell and went to dump the body in a wooded area. The body was discovered the next day by a pedestrian who alerted the police.
Wayne later informed his girlfriend that his mother and sister had killed a man.
The girlfriend confronted Chantell, who later told her that it was Wayne and his acquaintance who had killed the man.
Wayne and Christine sold the bakkie for R10,000.
On July 20, 2018, Wayne sold the chest freezer along with other items that belonged to Scholtz.
Wayne, Christine, and Chantell were arrested at their home on the night of July 20, 2018.
Police found several items in the home that belonged to Scholtz. Swartz was arrested six days later.
In December 2020, Wayne was sentenced to life in prison, while Swartz was sentenced to 25 years for the crimes they committed.
Judge Elna Revelas said that Christine and Chantell lied throughout the trial, and as it progressed, the lies became increasingly ridiculous.
Attorney Marius Stander noted that they had plenty of time to acknowledge what they did.
Judge Revelas said the two showed no remorse for what they did. However, he took into consideration that they were first-time criminals and sentenced Chantell to 20 years for murder and 15 years for aggravated robbery. He sentenced Christine to 15 years for murder and 15 years for aggravated robbery.
MESS
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