Joanne Swartbooi, who previously pleaded guilty to charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice, appeared before the Johannesburg High Court on June 13 and 15.
The Eden Park mother of three had pleaded guilty to killing the father of her children, Timothy Jacobs, with a cricket bat and burning his body in October 2021.
During her appearance, social worker Precious Sibisi and probation officer Nkateko Mabuyangwa presented their reports on the witness stand.
Swartbooi also testified before the court, apologising to the deceased’s family, the community and her children for her actions.
Reports
After interviewing relevant sources, Sibisi read her report. She stated that at age 22, Swartbooi relocated to the province, met Jacobs and later moved in with him.
“The accused professes she had a toxic relationship with the deceased, and he was abusive towards her from the first year of their relationship. The deceased temporarily stopped being abusive but the abuse still happened once in a while, according to the accused.
“They were together for 12 years,” Sibisi said.
She said Swartbooi described herself as a person who is calm, good-hearted and likes to be in a peaceful environment.
She also said she did not like being bullied, bullying others and cheating.
Mabuyangwa, who also read her report, said the deceased was survived by five children. He was the financial provider because he worked as a supervisor.
“The deceased’s mother reported that the accused tried to cover her tracks by sending a message from his phone, indicating that the deceased had left for Cape Town for work purposes. The victim (their minor child) indicated that he witnessed his mother kill his father. He indicated that he went back to his room and pretended to be sleeping so that his mother could not see him,” she said.
The social worker also testified that the matter had adversely affected the deceased’s family. She said the family felt they had had no closure, leaving a big void.
Pleads for mercy
To the deceased’s family and the community, the 38-year-old apologised for her actions.
She asked that the deceased parents apologise on her behalf to her minor children for ‘taking their father’. She also told the court she never had the chance to apologise and was taking that opportunity.
During her testimony, she reiterated that she was in an abusive relationship.
“In 2010, we started staying together, and we fought. He assaulted me so badly that I had a miscarriage in my first pregnancy. In 2011, he dislocated my knee. I also got a protection order against him for fighting and swearing. He also abused me emotionally because of his cheating,” she said.
When cross-examined, Swartbooi said she felt bad because this was not something she had planned to do. She said her actions were prompted by fear because she did not want to go to prison.
The State has since closed its case, and Judge Moleboheng Mdalana-Mayisela postponed the matter to August 18 for sentencing.
Swartbooi remains in custody.
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