Cape Town, South Africa — The man convicted of raping and murdering 8-year-old Tazne van Wyk has died while serving his sentence in a Cape Town prison.
Moyhdian Pangkaeker, 60, was found dead inside the correctional facility where he had been incarcerated since his 2023 conviction. Prison authorities have not yet released the cause of death, and an internal investigation is expected to follow, as is standard procedure.
Pangkaeker was handed nine life sentences and an additional 33 years in 2023 for a string of violent crimes, including the abduction, rape, and murder of young Tazne — a case that horrified South Africans across the country.
A Case That Shook the Nation
Tazne van Wyk disappeared in February 2020 while walking to a nearby shop in Elsies River. After an extensive search, her body was discovered days later in a stormwater drain near Worcester. The investigation quickly led authorities to Pangkaeker, a repeat offender who had been out on parole at the time of the crime.
During his 2023 trial, the court described Pangkaeker’s actions as “brutal, cruel, and calculated,” emphasizing the long history of violence in his criminal record. The judge stressed that society needed permanent protection from him.
Family and Community React
News of Pangkaeker’s death has resurfaced the painful memories of Tazne’s tragic story. Community members in Elsies River and Ravensmead — where Tazne lived — expressed mixed emotions, with many saying that his death brings a sense of closure, while others noted that no outcome can undo the loss suffered by her family.
The Department of Correctional Services is expected to issue a formal statement once more details become available.