Pangaeker's death haunts Tazne's family

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed the death of Moyhdian Pangaeker, who was sentenced for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Tazne Van Wyk. Her parents confirmed they had not been informed about his passing but heard the news for the first time from the Cape Argus on Tuesday.

They said that despite his death, his actions destroyed their lives due to the negligence of the state after he was released out on parole and that justice would now never be served for their daughter.

In a statement shared with the media, DCS spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo said Pangaeker had died in his sleep. “The Department of Correctional Services confirms the passing of offender Moyhdian Pangaeker.

" He died in his sleep and was discovered by officials on November 18. Pangaeker was serving a life sentence at Brandvlei Maximum Centre for multiple offences, including seven counts of rape, five counts of assault, five counts of common assault, one count of corpse violation, and one count of murder. The family has been duly informed of this unfortunate incident.”

In February 2023, Moyhdian Pangaeker was sentenced to nine life terms (225 years) plus an additional 34.5 years—over 250 years total, running concurrently—for an effective 25-year prison sentence.

Pangaeker was sentenced to 10 years in 2008 for kidnapping, child molestation, and culpable homicide. He received parole in April 2013 but absconded in November 2013, leading to his re-arrest in August 2015 for unrelated offences. Paroled a second time in October 2016, he absconded again in February 2019. Despite a case being opened, he was not immediately arrested.

While on parole between 2016 and 2019, he committed numerous sexual assaults, including raping his own daughter. He murdered Tazne in February 2020 while still an absconder from parole supervision and her body was discovered in a storm water drain along the N1 near Worcester.

“After the court case, we did not hear about the case again. What about Tazne? Did her life not mean something now that he is gone?” said Tazne’s father, Terence Manuel. “We are still suffering today. I did not get counselling; my family is affected by this case financially and emotionally, and we have been unable to rebuild our lives. Everyone made promises; there were all of these spokespersons and politicians. What about us making a case against the state? We never said we wanted to leave it."

Tazne’s mother, Carmen Van Wyk, said DCS authorities had not informed the family of his death.

Candice van der Rheede of the Western Cape Missing Children’s Unit (WCMPU), who had been part of the search for Tazne, said: “Our condolences to his family because of what he did; his family were also victims.”

Chaz Thomas of Track n Trace Missing Persons Unit, who had been part of the search at the time with WCMPU, said in response to his death: “I feel that it was too little time behind bars, but I trust that Tazne and those affected find peace.”

Activist Sandy Lawrence added that his death reopened the wounds.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus