Free State – A former South African Police Service (SAPS) officer has been sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment, while his wife was handed 36 months of correctional supervision after the pair were convicted on 1 151 charges.
In a statement on Friday, SAPS said the Welkom Regional Court sentenced Daniel Jacobus Fourie (60) and his wife, Francina Fourie (55), following a lengthy investigation and trial spanning several years.
“The Welkom Regional Court has sentenced Daniel Jacobus Fourie (60) to five years of direct imprisonment and his wife Francina Fourie (55) to thirty-six months of Correctional supervision. This is after they were convicted on 1151 charges.”
According to police, the case stems from a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation that took place between 2015 and 2019.
SAPS said the matter began in August 2015 when a case of crimen injuria was opened after defamatory and threatening messages were spray-painted on the perimeter wall of a property in Volks Road, Welkom.
“The victim’s family also received messages accusing the victim of being a rapist and a ‘porra scum’.”
Police said the harassment escalated beyond graffiti, with defamatory messages allegedly spread through text messages and written on public infrastructure.
“The slander continued and was now spread across several platforms including Short Message Service (SMS) through cellphones and graffiti on bridges, road signs, trees, farm dams, and the victim’s church.”
The investigation also uncovered more serious alleged offences. During 2017, four attempted murder cases were opened after gunshots were fired at the victim’s home and business premises.
The investigation was led by Lieutenant Colonel Ben Strydom of the Odendaalsrus Detectives.
Months of investigation
SAPS said months of investigative work, including cellphone analysis, led to Fourie being identified as the suspect while he was still serving as a police officer.
“Following months of investigations, a warrant of arrest was authorised and issued in February 2019 after Danie Fourie, who was employed in the South African Police Service at the time, was identified as the suspect through cellphone linkages.”
Police said another graffiti-related incident in Ventersburg in February 2019 led to Fourie’s arrest. He was later released on R5 000 bail.
Following further investigations conducted by the investigating officer, Advocate Simpson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Francina Fourie was added as a second accused.
After more than 40 appearances in the Welkom Regional Court, the couple was found guilty on 7 April 2026 of malicious damage to property, crimen injuria and intimidation.
The matter was postponed three times before sentencing.
“On 30 July 2026, Magistrate Kirsten sentenced Daniel Jacobus Fourie to five years’ imprisonment and Francina Fourie to 36 months correctional supervision.”
The sentencing brings to an end a case that took more than a decade to investigate and prosecute.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Facebook/SAPS
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
