A former gang member who brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend on her 21st birthday in Western Cape will spend at least 25 years behind bars after receiving two life sentences in the Vredendal High Court.
The High Court of South Africa, sitting at the Vredendal Magistrates Court, delivered the verdict on Wednesday, following Cloete's confession regarding the premeditated nature of his crime.
On October 7, 2023, the day that should have celebrated Carmen Gouws’ 21st birthday, Calvin Cloete, a 38-year-old member of the notorious 27s gang, displayed an alarming escalation of violence that culminated in her tragic death.
The court heard how Cloete armed himself with an axe before dragging Gouws from her home into an orchard.
“Cloete attacked the victim with an axe and also raped her. Her body was discovered by children in a field in Flentersvlei Farm in the early hours of the morning,” said police spokesperson, Anelisiwe Manyana.
Cloete pleaded guilty but denied premeditating the crime.
“During his cross-examination, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Adv Louise Freister-Sampson asked him if he knew that when he dragged her out of the house with an axe in hand he would kill her, he confirmed that he knew,” said Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila.
Cloete admitted to hitting Gouws with a beer bottle before threatening her with further violence if she refused to accompany him.
“He confessed during cross-examination that he beat her up often. She was 13 years old, and he was 29 when they got involved and became intimate when she was 15,” said Ntabazalila.
After dragging Gouws to a secluded location where he assaulted her, Cloete unleashed a torrent of violence, leading to her death.
Post mortem results showed extensive injuries across her body, highlighting the brutality of the attack. Cloete mentioned that he felt guilty and planned to hand himself into the police, only to divert to continue his gang-related activities first.
In a separate but equally concerning charge, Cloete was sentenced for the attempted murder of Isak Booi, which he stabbed in the neck.
“He confessed that as a ‘plank’, a member of the 27s gang, they believed in spilling blood, and he carried a knife all the time. He confirmed that even if he were released from prison, he would continue carrying a knife,” said Ntabazalila.
During sentencing, Advocate Freister-Sampson argued that Cloete epitomises toxic masculinity and displayed a disturbing possessiveness toward Gouws.
“He was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, life imprisonment for murder, 13 years direct imprisonment for attempted murder and 5 years direct imprisonment for kidnapping,” said Manyana.
Cloete will not be eligible for parole for at least 25 years.
IOL