Fury as SA soldier who killed kids gets parole

A former SA Air Force sergeant from Hoedspruit, Limpopo, who murdered a child who had been forced into prostitution in Burundi, and later shot his wife and shot and killed his own children with an R4 assault rifle in his home, will be released after 13 years behind bars.

Flippie Venter, 48, served as a member of the South African peacekeeping force in Burundi.

He was sent to prison in 2006 for the murder of his children and was convicted of the murder of 14-year-old Therése Nkeshimana a year later.

Venter’s parole was approved by the Barberton Prison parole board on Wednesday.

Venter’s former wife, Millie, who survived the attack after being shot in the stomach, now fears for her life.

She said that she would obtain a protection order against Venter as soon as possible.

His killing spree began in September 2003, when he murdered Nkeshimana and assaulted a Burundian security guard while serving as a VIP guard as part of the peacekeeping force.

After six months of being held in a shipping container in Burundi, he was sent back to South Africa and released on bail.

While out on bail, he shot his children after an argument with his wife on April 26 2006.

The crime was committed in their home at Air Force Base Hoedspruit.

At the time, witnesses testified that Venter was with members of his unit at an O’Hagans restaurant, where he had “about three beers”.

Later that night, he and Millie went to a social engagement together, where he drank more.

When the couple returned home, they began to argue.

Millie told Venter that she would divorce him and take the children with her if Venter was found guilty of the Burundian child’s murder.

Read: Air force racial rift report surfaces after 14 years

This resulted in a shouting match, during which Millie sent text messages containing the word ‘help’ to various people.

Venter then got his gun and shot their four-year-old son Janco.

When Millie attempted to take the rifle away from him, he shot her.

He then shot their five-year-old daughter Millize in the back as she was trying to run away.

In October 2006, the circuit court in Nelspruit sentenced Venter to 10 years behind bars.

Before sentencing, the court took into account mitigating circumstances relating to Venter’s childhood, as well as the trauma and stress caused by events in Burundi.

The state appealed the sentence and the Supreme Court of Appeal increased it to 18 years.

While in prison, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his crimes in Burundi.

The sentence was reduced to 18 years. Both sentences were to be served concurrently.

Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the department of correctional services, confirmed that Venter appeared before a parole board on Wednesday and that his application for release had been approved.

A source told City Press’ sister publication Rapport last week that they understood that he would be released from prison in March.

Another source the family was “uncomfortable” with the fact that Venter had even been given a parole hearing.

Nxumalo said the family had been invited to the parole hearing.

“Millie made written submissions and indicated that she was not prepared to participate in the process. She emphasised that Venter should serve his full sentence.”

Nxumalo said the department had unsuccessfully tried to make contact with the families of the Burundian victims.

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