POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, says he is happy with the long term incarceration handed to the “heartless criminal”, Frans Maela.
Ledwaba says justice was served and individuals like Maela do not deserve to live with the community, but rather, in prison.
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Maela received two life long sentences for the rape and murder of Tanya Wiers in her house in Eduan Park on 7 February 2017. The trail began on 15 May and with just under two weeks in the dock, Maela’s actions on that day were discussed by forensic specialists, police as well as his colleague and employer.
Late morning on 7 February 2017, Maela, who worked for the Wiers family’s neighbour, gained access into the Wiers’ yard and home. Here he attacked Tanya and stabbed her with a scissor and knife over 30 times. He also raped her. As her young son returned home from school, he found her naked body on the floor of his sisters room and phoned his dad, Rolf, who worked out of town.
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Police found evidence on the scene that let them to the neighbour’s yard, where they also found some stolen goods in the outside bathroom facilities. Maela was arrested on the same day that the murder occurred and was denied bail.
Even though Maela denied every accusation and even said that the states witnesses all lied, Judge Gerrit Muller concluded that DNA evidence found inside Tanya was an undeniable fact, putting him at the crime scene at the time of the murder. According to the court, Maela showed no sign of remorse.
Apart from the two life sentences, Mulder also imposed a sentence of 15 years for robbery with aggravated circumstances.
