UPINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER SETTING PARTNER ALIGHT
09 September 2025
UPINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER SETTING PARTNER ALIGHT
Upington, Northern Cape – The Upington Regional Court has sentenced Heinrich Van Wyk (35) to 12 years’ direct imprisonment for the attempted murder of his 32-year-old life partner, whom he set alight during a violent domestic dispute in September 2019.
On the night of 21 September 2019, Van Wyk doused the victim with paraffin from a household lamp and set her alight with a match. She sustained severe burns to her chest, stomach, neck, face, head, and both arms. Neighbours who rushed to her aid described the horrific scene, with her skin peeling off and forming blisters. The victim was initially treated at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington before being airlifted to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley for emergency care.
Despite the victim’s request to withdraw charges, the State, represented by Prosecutor René du Plessis, pursued the case due to its seriousness and the history of abuse. The victim received support throughout the trial from Court Preparation Officer (CPO) Ashley Groenewald, who helped her manage trauma and compile a Victim Impact Statement (VIS).
During the trial, Van Wyk denied responsibility, claiming the victim set herself alight because she was suicidal. The court rejected this defence, finding the victim’s testimony credible and supported by medical experts and neighbours. A doctor testified that her injuries, burns to 25% of her body, were life-threatening and unlikely to have been self-inflicted, and that her right hand had been left permanently damaged, making it impossible for her to write. In her VIS, the victim described how the ordeal devastated her and her children, who were bullied and mocked because of her visible scars. She revealed that the abuse began with slaps and kicks but escalated to a near-fatal attack. Prosecutor du Plessis argued that the crime was a clear example of domestic abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) and stressed the need for strong court action to protect women. The court agreed, noting Van Wyk’s lack of remorse and his treatment of the victim as property rather than a partner. In sentencing, the court condemned the crime as a “repulsive offence” marked by cruelty, jealousy, and control.
In addition to his prison term, Van Wyk was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Chief Prosecutor of the Upington Cluster, Armando Damarah, welcomed the sentence, describing it as a victory for the complainant and for women across the country: “This case is a wake-up call for women who continue to suffer in silence.
The law offers protection, and we encourage survivors to come forward and break the cycle of abuse. We commend the courage of the victim and the dedication of the prosecution team and CPO, whose efforts ensured justice was served. “He added that each successful prosecution is the result of painstaking investigative and prosecutorial work, reflecting hundreds of similar cases finalised daily in the fight against GBV.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
073 423 3539