MPUMALANGA – John Leonard Du Plooy (32) was remanded in custody by the Roodepoort Regional Court on Thursday, 07 July 2022 for murder and aggravated robbery. The case was allegedly committed in August 2018 at Roodepoort by the accused already serving two life sentences and additional 30 years imprisonment for Springs and Alberton murder and aggravated robbery cases which were committed in June and September 2018 respectively.

Du Plooy is a co-accused of Shaun Oosthuizen (42) who was sentenced to four (4) direct life imprisonment plus 80 years imprisonment by the Pretoria Regional Court on 16 May 2022.

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

The case against Du Plooy was postponed to 22 July 2022 for attorney. The accused is in custody in Johannesburg Prison.

The Hawks’ Provincial Head, Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the investigating team for securing such substantial life sentences and hope for the additional life sentences. “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