THE news was beyond shocking, beyond comprehension. Her beloved daughter, the mother of her grandchildren, was gone – and she’d taken her own life.
But how could it be? Her child would never leave her children. This was the question that kept niggling Estelle Labuschagne after Jaco Steyl, the man her daughter, Nadia, had lived with for the past six years, called to tell her the terrible news.
He said he’d found Nadia hanging from burglar bars in the bathroom of the home they shared with her three children in Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort. Steyl told Estelle and her husband, Johan, that he and Nadia had had an argument the previous night and she’d screamed at him and called him a “worthless piece of s**t”.
He’d slept in another room and found Nadia the next morning. He’d taken her body down and then took their two-year-old daughter to the neighbours before he notified authorities.
Police initially ruled Nadia’s death a suicide – but Estelle and Johan refused to accept it. Something just wasn’t right. They paid for a private autopsy which found the marks on Nadia’s neck didn’t match those of someone who’d hanged themself.
Estelle is a retired social worker and says her “social worker’s mind kicked in” and told her something was wrong from the start. After the autopsy she knew she had something to work with. “I thought, ‘Yes, you bastard, I’m going to get you’.”
Estelle took the autopsy results to the police who reopened the investigation and arrested Steyl (44) for Nadia’s murder.
Steyl was recently convicted in the Johannesburg high court and sentenced to 18 years in jail.
This story is from the 25 April 2024 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 25 April 2024 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
OUR BRAVE LITTLE FIGHTER
Like her late sister, little Elana was born with a rare lung condition and can't breathe without a ventilator, but her parents are walking this familiar path with courage and hope
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
With his new film, The Fall Guy, Ryan Gosling put stunt doubles centre stage but how hard is it for a complete amateur to master the trade? Journalist Simon Usborne decided to find out
INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE
Irish writer Cecelia Ahern chats to YOU about writing her novels in longhand, her love of Lego and looking forward to her first wine-tasting in South Africa
THE KIDS ARE NOT OKAY
Something happened around 2010 that's had a huge impact on Gen Z, says a new book. It was the start of the phone-based childhood, and it's resulted in a rewiring of kids' brains - and a surge in depression and anxiety
HE'S ON THE BALL
Despite having no lower legs, -Grayton's prowess on the rugby field has made him a social media star
THIS ISN'T JUSTICE
A woman was shot dead by her fiancé, who said he thought she was an intruder. Now her family believe he got off lightly
THE BOSS IN CHARGE OF YOUR CROSS
As chief electoral officer of the IEC, Sy Mamabolo has his hands full these days!
HEARTBREAK AND HOPE
Relatives and loved ones share their stories as rescue efforts continue for the people still trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in George
BLOOMING!
Shes adored by fans and loathed by haters, but like the character she plays in her new movie, Anne Hathaway says shes putting her own Joy first
SUSSEXES' AFRICAN ADVENTURE
Meghan and Harry took Nigeria by storm – but relations with the royal family remain icy