Convicted Karoo farmer Louis Lategan has appointed a new lawyer, Annelene van den Heever, in a move that has delayed his sentencing for trafficking and raping young women employed as au pairs. Lategan was set to be sentenced in the Makhanda High Court on Monday but the case has been postponed to October 12 to allow Van den Heever to prepare her defense. Van den Heever is known for her work with high-profile clients, including Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
Lategan was convicted on 21 of 22 counts, including trafficking six young women to his farm in the Xamdeboo district between 2020 and 2023, and raping three of them. He was found guilty of assaulting two other women and three counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, involving children aged 11, 12, and 13. The women, aged between 18 and 24, had traveled hundreds of kilometers from home to work as au pairs, only to find themselves victims of Lategan's abuse.
According to the state, Lategan gave the women drinks laced with a drug, after which they woke up in his bed with no recollection of what had happened. However, Lategan denied drugging anyone, claiming that each of the women had slept with him willingly. The court heard that one of the six women took her own life in February 2022, one gave birth to Lategan's child, and another lost a pregnancy while living on the farm.
The minimum prescribed sentence for Lategan's crimes is life imprisonment, given that the women were trafficked and raped more than once. The state has also indicated that it will request Lategan's name be entered on the National Register of Sex Offenders. Lategan has been in custody since handing himself over to police in Xamdeboo with his attorney on July 3, 2023, and was refused bail twice, losing an appeal against that decision in the Makhanda High Court in November 2024.
Van den Heever confirmed to IOL News that she now represents Lategan and will prepare his defense for the sentencing hearing on October 12. Her appointment has delayed the sentencing, allowing her time to review the case and prepare her arguments. Lategan's case has drawn widespread condemnation, with many calling for the harshest possible sentence.
Judge Judith Roberson convicted Lategan on Wednesday last week, finding him guilty of a range of crimes, including trafficking, rape, and assault. The court heard that Lategan had exploited the women's vulnerability, taking advantage of their desperation for work and a place to stay. The case has highlighted the need for greater protection for vulnerable women and children in South Africa.
Lategan's sentencing on October 12 is expected to draw significant attention, given the severity of his crimes and the high-profile nature of his new lawyer. The state will likely push for the maximum sentence, while Van den Heever will argue for a more lenient sentence. The outcome will be closely watched by advocates for women's rights and those calling for justice in cases of human trafficking and abuse.
Key points
- Louis Lategan's sentencing has been delayed until October 12 to allow his new lawyer, Annelene van den Heever, to prepare his defense.
- Lategan was convicted of trafficking six young women and raping three of them, and faces a minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
- The state will request Lategan's name be entered on the National Register of Sex Offenders, adding to the consequences of his actions.
