After months of Leon Brits’ death, Suretha Brits, the wife has pleaded guilty to the murder of her hotelier husband in the Upington Circuit High Court on Monday, 15 November. Suretha has been sentenced to 25 years in jail.

Leon Brits, 41, was a well-regarded hotelier and businessman in Pofadder. He was found dead, his body floating in the swimming pool of one of their properties on 7 October.

His body had several stab wounds and several valuable items, including firearms, a cellphone, Kruger rands and cash, were stolen from the property.

Suretha was arrested at her home in Kakamas, Northern Cape, five months after the murder. The South African Police Service (SAPS) investigation was led by the late Brigadier Dick De Waal.

“During the accused’s first appearance in the Pofadder Magistrates’ Court, the state, represented by Advocate Johannes Cloete successfully opposed the bail application of the accused,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane.

“The bail appeal that the accused lodged at the High Court in Kimberley, was also won by the state.”

On Monday, Suretha pleaded guilty to one count of murder and one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“She pleaded guilty to both counts and made a plea in terms of section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977,” said Senokoatsane.

 “The accused agreed that she was not forced into making submissions about her role in the planned killing of her husband.”

Judge Mpho Mamosebo found the accused guilty on both counts and sentenced her to 25 years direct imprisonment for murder and 15 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

She will serve an effective 25 years in prison as the robbery sentence will run concurrently with the murder.

At the end of the trial, Advocate Cloete requested a separation of trial for the rest of the accused – Amatle Bareki, 25, and Enrich Williams,.

The NPA said the trial of the two co-accused would start on 22 November 2021 at the Circuit High Court in Upington.

Bareki and Williams are also charged with the murder of Leon Brits and aggravated robbery.

Another suspect implicated in the matter, Jacques van Vuuren, 37, was sentenced in the Kimberley High Court on 25 March 2021 after entering a plea agreement. He will serve an effective 20 years in prison