Two life sentences for convicted killer Xander Bylsma
The North West High Court in Mahikeng has given Xander Bylsma two life sentences for the murders of two teenage girls at the hostel of Hoërskool Stella in 2018.
The 21-year-old - who was 19 at the time of the murders - strangled 16-year-old Marna Engelbrecht and 17-year-old Sharnelle Hough in the school's hostel in May 2018.
Their bodies were found hanging on the school’s dormitory premises by a matron at the school.
Hough was found hanging from the staircase, while Engelbrecht was found in an upstairs bathroom.
Handing down the sentence on Friday, Judge Ronald Hendricks said Bylsma showed very little regard of the girls' lives.
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"What makes these offences gruesome and what makes it more aggravating is that it was two young girls who were murdered.
"This is also a case of gender-based violence which you perpetrated on two vulnerable young girl.
"Your actions are indeed disgraceful and appalling. You showed no respect towards them. You insulted and swear at them by using vulgar language," Hendricks said.
Hendricks said the only way to stop gender-based violence is to impose harsher sentences on perpetrators.
"The violence perpetrated by men against women is also very rife in the area of jurisdiction of this court and when an offence or offences are prevalent, courts are called upon to impose stiffer sentences in order to curb that particular offence or offences."