Western Cape High Court orders Zurenah Smit to Valkenberg for 30-day psychiatric evaluation

The Western Cape High Court has ordered accused Zurenah Smit to undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation at Valkenberg Psychiatric Facility, a development that has further delayed proceedings in the trial over the death of her husband.

Admission to Valkenberg after bed becomes available

On Friday morning the court heard that a bed space had become available at Valkenberg and that Smit would be admitted immediately to begin a 30-day assessment to determine whether she can follow and participate in court proceedings.

State prosecutor Renee Uys told the court:

“We have established that Valkenberg is ready and available to have accused number 1 (Smit) assessed. She is going to Valkenberg today (Friday) for her 30-day assessment period.”

Next court dates and steps

The matter was postponed to 17 August. Counsel for both parties discussed how the trial should resume once the assessment is concluded. The State said it would discuss dates regardless of the outcomes of the assessment report to ensure the trial proceeds without further delay.

High Court Judge Derek Wille invited counsel for both parties to meet with him in chambers by next week to discuss further trial dates.

Background: bail revoked and prior conduct

Earlier this year, on 28 January, Judge Wille revoked Smit’s R10,000 bail with immediate effect during cross-examination. Following that revocation, Smit was detained at the crèche section at Pollsmoor Prison while waiting for a date for the mental evaluation.

The State previously argued the referral for evaluation was necessitated by Smit’s conduct on 28 January. On the day before court proceedings started, Smit who had felt ill at court on several occasions said:

“I’m going to the doctor. I’m waiting for my husband to fetch me.”

She will now be held at Valkenberg Psychiatric Facility for the duration of the assessment.

Allegations in the murder case

Smit is accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband, 62-year-old Stellenbosch farmer Stefan Smit. Alongside her co-accused, Derek Sait, the two are accused of killing Stefan and staging the death to look like a robbery.

It is alleged that in November 2018 Smit and Sait gave Stefan sleeping tablets or sedative substances and stole R235,000, a 9mm pistol, three Kruger Rands valued at R20,650 each, a Mandela coin worth R23,000, and a 0.5oz Kruger Rand worth R9,200. Sait remains out on bail.

During court proceedings so far, Smit has made bare denials of being involved with robberies and the 2019 shooting murder carried out at Louisenhof Farm, where she and family members lived with the slain Stefan.

What happens next

The psychiatric assessment at Valkenberg will determine Smit’s fitness to follow and participate in her trial. The court has scheduled a follow-up on 17 August, and the judge has asked counsel to meet in chambers to set further dates for the trial to recommence once the assessment report is available.