Three men arrested for murder of retired teacher Karin van Aardt

Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Karin van Aardt along the N2 near the Cape Town International Airport.

Dec 15, 2025 - 08:00
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Three men arrested for murder of retired teacher Karin van Aardt

Three men, Ndiyabulela Vayi, Thando Nkolongo, and Yamnkela Mdunyelwa, have been arrested in connection with the murder of Karin van Aardt during a smash-and-grab on Jakes Gerwel Drive along the N2 near the Cape Town International Airport earlier this month.

Van Aardt was 64.

According to the state, the suspects lay in wait in the grass near the road before attacking the rental vehicle as it stopped at a traffic light.

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Broke the passenger window

Nkolongo allegedly broke the passenger window with a spark plug, while Vayi tried to grab Van Aardt’s bag and GPS.

When she resisted, Vayi stabbed her multiple times in the chest.

The suspects face murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances charges.

The case has been postponed to December 19 for a formal bail application – which the state plans to oppose.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) labelled the incident as yet another example of South Africa’s escalating violent crime crisis, saying criminals are empowered by a failing criminal justice system.

Karin van Aardt, who was traveling with her husband Herman from Mbombela to Cape Town on December 5, was on her way to her grandchild’s eighth birthday in Vredenburg when she was killed.

A memorial service will be held at NG Moedergemeente Nelspruit on Thursday, 18 December at 11:00.

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