Moehydien Pangkaeker Tazne van Wyk

Moehydien Pangkaeker. Image: SAPS

Justice system fail: Why was Moehydien Pangaker not behind bars?

Moehydien Pangaker, accused of murdering Tazne van Wyk, has a long list of crimes to his name — crimes that haven’t kept him in jail.

Moehydien Pangkaeker Tazne van Wyk

Moehydien Pangkaeker. Image: SAPS

Pangaker has been released from prison one too many times and in the most recent case, it has cost an innocent girl her life.

According to National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, Pangaker has been convicted 11 times and released 11 times and he was still able to get parole and roam free. His convictions date back to the 1980s. 

Pangaker appeared in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Friday 21 February on charges of kidnapping and murder after eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk was last seen with him on 7 February. 

The 54-year-old’s case has been postponed to 17 April for further investigation. He will remain in police custody until then. He has not applied for bail at this stage, but if he should, the state has said they will oppose it. 

“Pangaker also cited having injuries on his ribs, around his neck, on his left and right arms and left leg. He says he can’t sit or stand and these injuries are a result of police action,” said Ntabazalila.

Pangaker’s previous convictions 

While the matter has been postponed, it did bring to light the long list of crimes that he’s been convicted of, dating back to 1981: 

  • 1. Ladismith: 2015: Possession of stolen vehicle, guilty and sentenced;
  • 2. Kuilsriver: 2001: Murder, guilty and sentenced;
  • 3. Kimberley: 1991: Theft, sentenced; 
  • 4. Ravensmead: 1988: Assault, sentenced;
  • 5. Laingsburg: 1998: Housebreaking, guilty and sentenced; 
  • 6. Elsies River: 1981: Theft: sentenced; 
  • 7. Elsies River: 1981: Housebreaking; sentenced;
  • 8. Ladismith: 2001: Culpable homicide, abduction, child neglect: sentenced;
  • 9. Ladismith: 2003: Assault: sentenced;
  • 10. Elsies River: 2003: Breaking correctional supervision: guilty; and
  • 11. Ladismith: 2015: Driving vehicle without authority: guilty.

Pangaker was sentenced in 2008 at the Bellville Regional Court for kidnapping, child abuse and culpable homicide. 

Ntabazalila said Pangaker was sentenced to 10 years for culpable homicide, with the kidnapping and child abuse count running concurrently with culpable homicide sentence. 

He was released on parole, but absconded from Bellville Community Corrections in 2015. He was placed on parole supervision at Ladismith Community Corrections between October 2016 and May 2019. He then also absconded supervision and a case was opened at Ladismith for absconding.

Arrested for alleged murder of Tazne van Wyk 

Pangaker was arrested in Cradock in the Eastern Cape on Monday 17 February. When police brought him back to the Western Cape on Wednesday 19 February, they made a horrific discovery.

Pangaker led police to a stormwater pipe near Worcester where Van Wyk’s body was cruelly dumped.

Van Wyk went missing on Friday 7 February. She was last seen by her father in Claire Street, Connaught Estate, in Elsies River, on her way to a nearby tuck shop. 

Tazne van Wyk