GUESTHOUSE OWNER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR DOUBLE MURDER OF GUEST COUPLE 

20 FEBRUARY 2026

GUESTHOUSE OWNER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR DOUBLE MURDER OF GUEST COUPLE 

The Gqeberha Regional Court has sentenced Kareedouw guesthouse owner, Kevin Pretorius (53), to an effective 10-year term of direct imprisonment following his conviction on two counts of murder. Pretorius was found guilty in January 2025 for the deaths of Mari Hoon (28) and her fiancé, Jean Vosloo (25), who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while staying at his Kliphuis Guesthouse in April 2020. 

The evidence before the court established that the couple died after inhaling toxic carbon monoxide fumes that accumulated in the bathroom due to a defective gas geyser installation. The geyser lacked a flue pipe to channel hazardous gases outside the building. Although fitted with a safety sensor intended to shut the system down in the absence of a flue pipe, the device was not functioning correctly. The court further heard that carbon monoxide is odourless and undetectable to human senses, rendering the victims unaware of the lethal danger. 

During the trial, the State Prosecutor Johan Jansen presented evidence that Pretorius personally installed the gas geyser despite having no formal training or qualifications to work with gas installations. The State argued that his decision to undertake the installation himself, without the necessary expertise and without ensuring regulatory compliance, significantly increased the risk to his guests. It also transpired that Pretorius had been alerted to safety concerns before the incident, including complaints from guests in July 2019 and March 2020, regarding the smell of gas. Despite these warnings, he failed to take reasonable steps to remedy the defect or to obtain qualified professional assistance. 

In aggravation of sentence, the court considered Victim Impact Statements detailing the enduring trauma suffered by the families of the deceased and the irreversible consequences of their loss. While in mitigation, the defence relied on reports from a probation officer and a social worker, submitting that Pretorius was a first offender with established community ties and that a non-custodial sentence would be appropriate. The State argued that direct imprisonment was warranted, emphasising the gravity of the offences, the vulnerability of the victims, and the accused’s conscious disregard of a known and foreseeable fatal risk in a commercial establishment operated for profit. 

In handing down the sentence, the Court agreed with the State that Pretorius had failed in his duty of care by disregarding safety requirements and repeated warnings, thereby exposing his guests to a foreseeable and fatal danger. The Court further found an absence of genuine remorse. Pretorius was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count of murder, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 10-year term. In terms of the Firearms Control Act, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm and ordered to surrender all firearms, ammunition and related licences in his possession. 

The defence applied for leave to appeal on the basis that the court had erred in its factual findings. The State opposed the application, submitting that there were no reasonable prospects that another court would arrive at a different verdict or impose a different sentence. The court nevertheless granted leave to appeal against both conviction and sentence. An application for bail pending appeal was subsequently dismissed. 

Welcoming the outcome, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Barry Madolo, stated: “This matter underscores the serious legal obligations resting on individuals who operate facilities open to the public. Those who ignore safety standards and place lives at risk for financial gain must expect to face serious criminal consequences. The NPA remains steadfast in holding such offenders accountable.” 

The National Prosecuting Authority reiterates that compliance with safety regulations is not optional. Operators of commercial establishments bear a clear duty to safeguard the well-being of their patrons, and failure to do so may result in severe criminal liability. 

Issued by: 

Luxolo Tyali 

NPA Regional Spokesperson 

Eastern Cape Division

Tel: 047 501 2630 

Cell: 073 555 9292 

Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za 

Enquiries: Nokuthula Makupula 0682682473 nmakupula@npa.gov.za