The sentencing of Johan Louwrens, scheduled for today, October 3, has been postponed to Friday, October 24, as the presiding magistrate was unavailable.

The brother-in-law of the late hit-and-run victim, Letisia Niemann (38), said he is disappointed that the man convicted of killing his sister-in-law remains free.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Verdict handed down in Johan Louwrens’ six-year-long culpable homicide trial

Gerald Boshoff told Lowvelder about his frustration outside the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court shortly after the sentencing was postponed.

“Well, in this country we must expect delays like this. A court case that should have been completed in six months is now taking six years and four days,” he said. “We’ve been battling with this case. Today was for sentencing and apparently the judge is not available – he is on leave or something.”

He criticised the court of failing to inform the victim’s family not to attend, saying it had already cost them a fortune to travel for the case over the past six years.

Niemann’s sister, Lizel Boshoff, the family had come all the way from Emalahleni for the sentencing, only for it to be postponed.

“You must understand that we need closure in this matter. We come from very far, my husband and I have spent hundreds over the years attending this case. I was sure that today there would be closure,” she said.

ALSO READ: Johan Louwrens’s trial set to continue

In September 2019, Niemann, a Mbombela businesswoman died in Kiaat Private Hospital after being struck by a bakkie outside Mustangs – The Dancing Place.

The driver, Louwrens, initially fled the scene but later handed himself over to police and was arrested.

After a lengthy legal process, including multiple postponements and witness testimonies, presiding officer, Magistrate Patrick Morris, convicted Louwrens of culpable homicide and a charge of a hit-and-run (alternatively, leaving the scene of an accident) on Wednesday, August 20.

ALSO READ: Nelspruit magistrate postpones judgment in Johan Louwrens’ culpable homicide trial

At the time, Morris agreed to an application by the defence that, although Louwrens had been convicted, he be allowed to await his sentencing at home.

“Taking into consideration that the accused has been attending the court for so many years, it is the court’s ruling that he be released on warning, pending the sentencing date,” said Morris.

He scheduled the sentencing date and said that he expected the victim impact statement and the pre-sentencing report to be ready.

ALSO READ: Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court postpones trial of hit-and-run accused