Ouma from Nelspruit stabbed to death in Bontehuewel smash and grab

AN OUMA from Nelspruit was stabbed to death soon after leaving Cape Town International Airport on Friday as she and husband were on their way to visit their only grandchild. 

Karin van Aardt and Herman, flew from KIMI (Kruger Mpumalanga International) Airport to Cape Town yesterday afternoon to attend their granddaughter's eighth birthday celebration in Vredenburg, where their son, Ruan, lives..

After hiring a car at the airport, they made their way to the N7 when tragedy struck. 

On the corner of Jakkalsvlei Avenue and Jakes Gerwel Drive in Bonteheuwel, an attacker broke Karin's window and started stabbing her with a knife and tried to grab her handsak.

According to reporting in the Lowvelder newspaper, Herman sped away, stopped another motorist and asked where the nearest hospital was, and the person indicated that he should follow him there.

Van Aardt was rushed to Netcare N1 City Hospital, but the 64-year-old former onderwsyer died of her wounds.   

Her brother-in-law Uli Tumpelman told the Lowvelder: “She said at 5.45pm that they had landed safely, but at 7pm Herman said we had to pray, there was trouble.” 

“She was just a grandmother who wanted to celebrate her only grandchild’s birthday.”

Tumpelman added the emergency personnel at the hospital tried to revive her, but later said her heart was no longer beating when they arrived and she had lost too much blood.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the incident, saying: “Goodwood police registered a murder case for investigation following an incident on Friday, 5 December 2025, on the corner of Jakkalsvlei and Jakes Gerwel Drive, in which an adult female was stabbed and fatally injured. 

“According to reports the victim and her husband were sitting in traffic when an unknown male tried to rob them. The victim sustained stab wounds to the chest and was taken to a medical facility for treatment where she later died. 

“The motive for the attack is robbery. The suspect fled the scene and is yet to be arrested.”

 Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously. 

The saak has been transferred to the Nyanga police for further investigation.