The Western Cape High Court sentenced Blessing Bveni, also known as the Table Mountain Killer, to two life sentences and 33 years imprisonment on Thursday, January 28. This follows his reign of terror around the Silvermine Nature Reserve from 2017 to 2018 where he attacked hikers, cyclists, a woman and two children.
His modus operandi was the same. He attacked unsuspecting victims around the Silvermine Nature Reserve near Fish Hoek, and robbed them of their valuables. Some of the victims were brutally stabbed without any provocation.
This spate of attacks and robberies resulted in the deaths of Ian McPherson and Douglas Notten, an attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances of Malcolm Eesterhuizen, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on David Bucklow, robbery with aggravating circumstances of Megan Steel and Damian Steel and robbery with aggravating circumstances of Julia Notten.
The court convicted the 33-year old Zimbabwean national on all ten counts.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on David Bucklow, seven years for robbery with aggravating circumstances of Megan Steel, three years for robbery with aggravating circumstances of Damian Steel, three years for robbery with aggravating circumstances of Julia Notten, life imprisonment for the robbery with aggravating circumstances of Douglass Notten, 18 years for attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances of Malcolm Eesterhuizen and life imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder of Ian McPherson. The sentences will run concurrently.
Delivering the sentence, Judge Judith Cloete said: “The deceased, Notten and McPherson, were subjected to brutal, frenzied attacks with the clear purpose of making sure they would not survive. Both must have died in agony. The evidence established that the accused planned the attacks and either stalked his victims or at the least preyed on defenceless people in fairly remote areas, knowing full well that they would find it very difficult to call for help.
“He thus appears to be a cruel and cold-hearted individual. He shows no remorse. The sequence of the crimes shows that his level of brutality quickly escalated, moving from two assaults with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to armed robberies, murder, a near murder and a further murder.”
The prosecutor, Advocate Chris Burke welcomed the sentence, saying: “I am relieved for the family and friends of the victims who will hopefully feel some solace from the fact that justice was served in this case.
“I have to commend SAPS and SanParks on the excellent investigation and quick reaction, without which a conviction and two sentences of life imprisonment would not have been possible. Lastly, as a runner myself, I am happy to have helped to make beautiful Table Mountain a safer place to be on and enjoy.”
Picture: Pixabay