On Friday morning, almost a year after well-loved Kareedouw farmer Kevin Pretorius was convicted of double homicide with intent (dolus eventualis) for the tragic deaths of the engaged couple Jéan Vosloo and Mari Hoon in the shower of his Kouga Kliphuis river lodge in 2020, a group of hopeful friends formed a protective circle of support and encouragement around him before sentencing was due in this drawn-out and controversial case in the Gqberha regional court. 

A few hours later, there was not a single dry eye among them or in the entire Kareedouw community when Pretorius was led to the holding cells before being taken to the high-security St Albans jail.

Magistrate Vuziwe Mnyani’s groundbreaking sentence of ten years’ effective imprisonment for each murder to be served concurrently without bail pending appeal sent shockwaves through judicial circles and caused an immediate uproar on online media platforms.

The torrent of comments on online news platforms mostly portrayed disbelief, anger and resentment at the inconsistency and injustice of the SA judicial system.

“Serial rapists, druglords and violent murderers get bail or are acquitted on some technical issues, but one of the kindest people you will ever find who only tried to do his neighbour a favour is now sent to jail for ten years? Without even bail pending appeal? There is something VERY wrong here!” “How can this be murder if he was not even at the scene?” “That man would not even hurt a fly – why would he deliberately do something that could harm anyone?” “This is outrageous and an abomination of justice!” “Culpable homicide at the most- murder? No way! “

“Visited that place 3 times and experienced nothing out of the ordinary. The gas installation worked 100%. Carbon monoxcide is a byproduct of combustion. It is not used to fill gas cannisters.”

“She basically just rubber-stamped her verdict and used Kevin as a scapegoat for the thousands of unintentional carbon monoxide deaths that occur annually in South African households!”

 

“The tragic death of two young people are devastating to their loved ones, but destroying the life of an innocent man who did them a favour in a crusade for blame-shift and revenge will never lessen their loss or bring closure.” “Far too many inconsistencies and unanswered questions in this case that was never investigated or revealed – hopefully it can still be addressed in appeal?

Online media platforms erupted with torrents of angry comments following the severe sentence Magistrate Vuziwe Mnyani slapped on Pretorius on Friday for the tragic death of Jéan Vosloo and his fiancée Mari Hoon.

The couple’s bodies were found under very suspect circumstances in the shower of Pretorius’s Kouga Kliphuis river lodge on his farm Zuuranys on the long weekend of 27 April 2020 during the height of Covid-19 restrictions. The couple was invited by their friend, Stephan du Plessis, of the neighbouring farm, after obtaining permission from Pretorius to use the facilities for free and at their own risk, as the Kliphuis was officially closed and abandoned during the Covid-19 lockdown.

What truly happened after the group’s arrival on late Saturday morning until their bodies were found the next morning has remained a mystery throughout the trial. Du Plessis, the only witness, testified that Vosloo went to shower around 20:30 and that Mari joined him shortly afterwards. He then went to sleep and only started looking for them the next morning when he discovered their bodies in the shower. If, when and how long the couple went to shower, never came out in the lengthy trial, but cellphone records of Mari Hoon proved that she was still active on her phone until 23:19. Jéan Vosloo’s long showering habits were well-known among his friends . . .

Autopsy reports apparently showed lethal levels of carbon monoxide (70%) and blood alcohol levels of 0,10 and 0,12 respectively, and it was established that the chimney flue of the shower’s gas geyser was somehow missing on that day and resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning, which caused their deaths. 

CARBON MONOXIDE IS ODOURLESS

Mnyani found that Pretorius had shown little remorse, disregarded safety requirements and ignored warnings regarding the defective gas installation, thereby endangering his guests. The court referred again to the “multiple warnings” Pretorius received, which in fact are only the three “friends of friends” of the Vosloo family who only came forward after the tragedy and testified how they smelled gas and got severely sick after showering in the Kliphuis in 2019. Ironically, in the same instance, it was stressed that carbon monoxide is odourless, which exacerbates its danger as a silent killer.

Heartrending victim impact statements describing the deep and lasting pain suffered by the families of Mari Hoon and Jéan Vosloo were again presented.

In mitigation, the defence, led by newly appointed adv. Francois van Zyl SC presented reports from a probation officer and social worker, stressing the impact that this protracted court case had on Pretorius and his two teenage daughters. He argued Pretorius was a first-time offender with strong community ties and suggested a non-custodial sentence would suffice.

Adv. Francois van Zyl SC

Van Zyl argued that a murder sentence is wrong because the incident did not meet the legal requirements for dolus eventualis. He said the conviction of murder was a “bridge too far” and that the incident, where two guests died, was closer to a “punishable accident” or, implicitly, a lesser charge such as culpable homicide, rather than intentional murder.

Mnyani granted Pretorius leave to appeal his conviction and sentence due to the “very unusual” nature of the case, and said another court could potentially reach a different decision. Yet, she refused bail pending appeal after state prosecutor Johan Jansen objected due to the gravity of the crime. He implied Pretorius must be a serious flight risk, as he had enough money to afford another top legal team at this late stage.

The new Cape Town legal team, led by senior advocate Francois van Zyl and assisted by advocate Christopher Quinn and instructing attorney Cornel Stander from Stander Attorneys, were only brought in last month after forensic expert Dr David Klatzow discovered serious discrepancies and the “worst investigation he has seen in his 40-year career”.

https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2026/01/14/forensic-expert-dr-david-klatzow-reveals-shocking-new-evidence-in-kouga-kliphuis-tragedy/

The case was shrouded in a cloud of controversy, suspicion and media sensation from the start, following a most sensational Carte Blanche programme initiated by Dr Lawton Vosloo and aired in June 2020 before any test results were even available. When Kevin Pretorius, one of the most well-loved and respected residents of Kareedouw was suddenly accused and convicted of double homocide with intent (dolus evantualis) the entire Kareedouw community and former Kliphuis guests stepped forward like an army to help prove the injustice and find answers to critical questions.

Klatzow’s expertise was brought in only in December 2025 after Pretorius was found guilty of double homicide, and it became apparent that the Defence had no intention to pursue crucial evidence and failed to traverse critical issues that materially hampered the defence. WHY? During a period of almost five years:

• No scientific forensic expert or investigator was consulted

• The Defence never visited or investigated the scene themself

• No proper cross-examination of the only eye-witness Stephan du Plessis, who initiated and planned the entire outing to the Kouga Kliphuis during strict Covid-19 restrictions

• No cellphone records of the involved parties were checked to confirm witness statements, determine whether other guests were also invited or to get an idea of the time frame of events

• No proper questioning or cross-examination of the medical doctor who conducted both autopsies and prepared both post-mortem reports, although she had no specialist training or qualifications in forensic pathology

• No mention of the serious and intimate WhatsApp conversation that Mari Hoon had with a family friend in Pretoria from 22:40 to 23:19 on that fatal night, which changes the entire time frame presented in court. This information was shared with the state in 2020 already
• Never questioned the discrepancy in colour between the two deceased following an alleged carbon monoxide death, with telltale physical characteristics

• Never questioned the presence of blood in the shower and braai area.
• No questioning why the Hoon family felt the need to appoint an independent detective when they realised no proper investigation was being done and that Stephan’s story did not comply with the evidence.

Also interesting how this tragedy was being sensationalised and used as a political tool to suddenly address the high prevalence of unintentional and unreported carbon monoxide deaths in South African households that go totally unnoticed.

Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo welcomed the outcome.

He stated: “This matter underscores the serious legal obligations resting on individuals who operate facilities open to the public. Those who ignore safety standards and place lives at risk for financial gain must expect to face serious criminal consequences. The NPA remains steadfast in holding such offenders accountable.”

CARBON MONOXIDE DEATHS IN SA

Based on available research, data on carbon monoxide (CO) deaths in South Africa are often underreported, but estimates indicate a significant burden, particularly in winter, due to the use of indoor heating, such as coal-fuelled braziers (imbawula), and poor ventilation. https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/a7b1adba-f398-4bce-9e25-1562b58e1917" alt="Western Cape Government" decoding="async" />Western Cape Government +1

Key Findings on CO Deaths in SA:

• Child Mortality: Indoor air pollution, which includes carbon monoxide, is linked to the deaths of approximately 1,400 children under the age of five annually in South Africa due to acute lower respiratory infections.
• General Household Exposure: Earlier estimates from the South African Medical Research Council suggested that indoor air pollution caused approximately 2,489 deaths annually.
• Incidents in 2024: Multiple, separate incidents in July 2024 resulted in numerous deaths, including a reported 7 deaths in one week due to imbawula use in enclosed spaces.
• Regional Context (Cape Town): In the Western Cape, between 2015 and 2023, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services recorded over 100 calls related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Broader Context: While specific national CO-only death figures are hard to isolate, broad indoor air pollution is a major contributor to over 42,000 annual air pollution-related deaths, which includes particulate matter (PM2.5). https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/919205d4-ee1b-4845-a161-daba0ec7dd94" alt="Western Cape Government" decoding="async" />Western Cape Government +4

Primary Sources of Risk:

• Imbawula (Coal-fuelled braziers): Used for heating and cooking in informal settlements.
• Faulty Appliances: Faulty chimneys, stoves, and LPG gas appliances.
• Generator Fumes: Improper use of generators indoors during power outages. https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/81878db3-3eb6-414b-817b-1134809269db" alt="Western Cape Government" decoding="async" />Western Cape Government +3

It is important to note that many cases, particularly in informal settings, may not be officially recorded, meaning the true number of fatalities could be higher than documented.

• Regional Context (Cape Town): In the Western Cape, between 2015 and 2023, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services recorded over 100 calls related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Broader Context: While specific national CO-only death figures are hard to isolate, broad indoor air pollution is a major contributor to over 42,000 annual air pollution-related deaths, which includes particulate matter (PM2.5). 

Also read:

https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2025/10/14/kareedouw-tragedy-how-a-favour-to-a-neighbour-turned-into-a-bizar-double-murder-homicide-case/

https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2025/10/22/kliphouse-tragedy-to-claim-another-innocent-victim-due-to-media-driven-need-for-revenge/

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