Marcel Cedric Sauls (18) of Vosburg was sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment in the Carnarvon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
The conviction relates to an incident in the early hours of Saturday, 7 October 2023. The victim, Burtanley Pretorius, then 16, encountered Sauls and a friend at approximately 00:10 and accompanied them to a local gathering spot in Vosburg.
At the location, Sauls and another individual were handling a knife. After being pushed by a friend, Sauls fell onto Pretorius, causing a knife scratch. An argument ensued. Sauls then stabbed Pretorius in the chest and fled.
Pretorius received hospital treatment. A case was opened at Vosburg Police Station, leading to Sauls’s arrest. The investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant Marlon Eksteen of the Carnarvon Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
The court also declared Sauls unfit to possess a firearm.