GBV activist slams protection order failures after Westville husband sentenced for wife’s murder
Former SANDF Special Forces member Frederick Nicolaas Le Roux received an effective 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to killing his wife in Westville.
A GBV activist says the case of a Westville woman who was murdered by her husband exposes serious gaps in protecting women.
Former solider, Frederick Nicolaas Le Roux, will spend years behind bars after pleading guilty to killing his wife, Taryn Le Roux. He was handed an effective 25-year sentence at the Durban High Court on Wednesday.
The former SANDF Special Forces member received 22 years imprisonment for murder, three years each for the firearm charges, and 12 months for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Taryn was shot dead at a popular pub in Westville in September.
Firearm access questioned
Dr Nadia Bernon, who’s with the Rapid Response Team on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, says the case has highlighted challenges in how protection orders are enforced.
“This outcome proves that the protection orders are useless unless law enforcement mandates the immediate physical confiscation of all firearms and weapons from the abuser.
“He should not be having access to any lethal weapons once a protection order is served, whether he is a policeman, a soldier, or a security. Because he is an abuser, it must be confiscated.”
Family welcomes verdict
Following the sentence handed down on Wednesday, Taryn’s niece, Lisa Beresford-Mnyandu, says the family is relieved that justice has finally been served.
“We are happy in a way. Of course, it's not enough in our opinion. We wish he got more or even the death penalty, which doesn't exist in South Africa. But overall, we are happy that he got more than what we expected.
“And as for his crying performance, he can just absolutely go fly a kite. I think we are all super relieved that it's over and it's done. It's finally done.”
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