DELPORTSHOOP – The tireless efforts of Detective Warrant Officer Jim Williams of the Delportshoop Detective Unit have brought a violent criminal to justice. Wendell Swartz (21) was sentenced to 16 years in prison by the Kimberley High Court on March 4, 2024, for a horrifying string of crimes.
Brutal Assault and Arson
Swartz’s reign of terror began in September 2022 with a vicious panga assault on a 29-year-old man and the destruction of a friend’s vehicle. Months later, he set his parent’s house on fire, endangering his own sister and niece.
Tragic Murder
The crime spree culminated in April 2023 with the brutal murder of a 59-year-old traditional healer. Swartz was apprehended shortly after the horrific crime.
Sentencing and Community Response
Swartz faces 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of assault, malicious damage to property, attempted arson, murder, and theft. Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, the Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner, praised Detective Williams for his dedication.