Van Aardt's alleged killers hid in the grass before a brutal attack
A vehicle windscreen shattered during a smash-and-grab attack near the Borcherds Quarry off-ramp on the N2, one of several recent incidents that have intensified calls for visible policing and urgent safety interventions along the route.
Image: File
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has given chilling details of how the three men accused of murdering Nelspruit grandmother, Karin van Aardt during a smash-and-grab incident, by hiding in the grass before allegedly robbing and stabbing her several times.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, confirmed that Ndiyabulela Vayi, Thando Nkolongo and Yamnkela Mdunyelwa face charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Their case was postponed for a bail application and further investigation, with the state indicating it will oppose bail.
According to the state’s allegations, the three accused were lying on the grass near Jakes Gerwel Drive when they saw the vehicle in which the deceased was travelling in, stopping at a red robot. They allegedly ran towards the car, with Nkolongo using a spark plug to break the passenger window. Vayi is accused of attempting to grab the deceased’s bag and GPS. When she resisted, he allegedly stabbed her several times.
Grandmother Karin van Aardt was stabbed to death while on her way to visist her family.
Image: Facebook
The case has intensified public anger and sharpened debate over safety measures along the N2, particularly after videos circulated on social media showing how smash-and-grab attacks are carried out near the airport corridor.
The City of Cape Town has reiterated that the N2 is a national road, with SANRAL and the provincial government responsible for upkeep such as footbridges, fencing and median maintenance. However, the City confirmed it is planning a security wall along the N2 near the airport.
“The City is planning for a security wall along the N2 around the airport to be erected. This will come at a significant cost estimated at around R180m, but the City is committed to ensuring it is done,” the City said. It added that it is currently preparing its capital budget for the next Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework, with more details expected when the budget is tabled in March.
South African National Roads Rail Limited (SANRAL) had not responded to media enquiries at the time of publication.
While the proposed wall has been welcomed by some, others argue that infrastructure alone will not solve the problem.
Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) Councillor Emre Uygun said the party welcomed the City’s plan, but warned it was not a long-term solution. The VF Plus said criminals would likely find ways to circumvent a wall and argued that “the only effective way to properly secure the N2 is through constant and visible policing, together with other tools such as cameras.”
The party also condemned a separate attack near the Borcherds Quarry off-ramp in which a mother and her 11-year-old son were targeted, saying the incident underscored the urgency of sustained enforcement. It called on SANRAL, which it said receives the largest portion of the budget for national roads, to either cover the full cost of the wall or make a substantial contribution.
The GOOD Party took a sharply different view, accusing the City of deflecting responsibility. In a statement, GOOD Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli said the mayor’s attempt to blame SANRAL for violence along the N2 was “misleading, contradictory, and unacceptable”. GOOD argued that while road maintenance is a provincial competency, the City retains constitutional responsibilities for public safety and law-enforcement coordination.
The party also raised concerns about governance and process, saying the proposed R180m wall had not been presented to relevant council portfolio committees and that there had been no formal crime-impact assessment or public strategy explaining how it would prevent violent or organised crime.
Pressure has also mounted from CAPEXIT, which has written to the executive mayor, provincial and national police leadership, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, demanding an emergency security response. The party has called for saturation policing, permanent joint operations by SAPS and Metro Police, and the deployment of the SANDF over the festive season to stabilise what it described as deadly transport corridors.
CAPEXIT leader Councillor Jack Miller said: “Cape Town residents have had enough. Tourists landing in our world-class city should not step into a warzone. The death of Karin van Aardt must be a turning point.”
The reactions follow earlier warnings that enforcement must be matched with engineering solutions. In October, City officials renewed calls for barrier walls and deployed 44 additional police and traffic officers to the area, arguing that visibility and patrols alone were not enough.
As the murder case moves through the courts and the City prepares its March budget, pressure is growing for a response that combines infrastructure, sustained policing and clear accountability to protect motorists along one of Cape Town’s most critical routes.
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