The Pretoria High Court in South Africa has sentenced Paul Philipps Prinsloo, 63, to a total of 25 years in prison for the premeditated murders of his 58-year-old wife, Magdalenne Prinsloo, and his 34-year-old stepdaughter, Ruzanna Prinsloo.
In a statement released on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) detailed the events leading to the sentencing.
On November 27, 2023, Prinsloo and his family were staying together at their home in Kosmo village, Hartbeespoort, along with a 6-year-old granddaughter. An argument broke out between him, his wife, and his stepdaughter while he was outside with a friend.
Following the altercation, Prinsloo retrieved a firearm from his room and fatally shot his stepdaughter. When she fell, he then shot his wife. In a disturbing act, he placed a Bible on top of his wife’s body before realizing that both women had succumbed to their injuries. His friend, who witnessed the aftermath, took the granddaughter and contacted the police. Prinsloo was arrested at the scene and has remained in custody since his bail was denied.
During the court proceedings, Prinsloo pleaded guilty to the murders but disputed the charge of premeditated murder. However, state prosecutor Advocate Bongani Khoza presented compelling evidence to establish that the killings were indeed planned.
In the sentencing phase, Prinsloo requested the court to consider a lighter sentence due to his age and poor health, as well as the fact that he had spent over a year in custody awaiting trial.
Advocate Khoza, however, advocated for a life sentence, emphasizing the severity of Prinsloo’s actions, which contributed to the alarming issue of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Africa. He argued that the court needed to impose a strong sentence to combat this pervasive social problem.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele acknowledged the circumstances that warranted a deviation from a life sentence, including Prinsloo’s age, expressions of remorse, and terminal illness.
The NPA welcomed the court’s decision and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing GBV within communities.
