KZN Correctional Services Dept probing death of murder-accused Werner de Jager
At the time of his death, he was facing charges linked to the murder of his wife. Her body was found at her Amanzimtoti home in 2021 after she was allegedly strangled.
FILE: Werner de Jager appeared in the Amanzimtoti Branch Court on 27 November 2023 in connection with the 2021 murder of his wife, Pastor Liezel de Jager. Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/Eyewitness News
DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is investigating the death of murder-accused Werner de Jager.
He was arrested in November 2023 and charged with his wife, Liezel's murder.
The department has confirmed that he died at the King Edward Hospital in Durban on Monday.
He had spent two weeks in hospital following some medical complications.
“The Department of Correctional Services can confirm the death of detainee Werner de Jager who was admitted at King Edward Hospital on the 05th April 2024 following his medical complications...on the 15th [April 2024] we were duly informed by the hospital that the detainee has passed on. Therefore, an internal [investigation] has been instituted in this matter,” said DCS spokesperson Thulani Nduli.
Eyewitness News understands that de Jager overdosed on sleeping pills, but this has not been confirmed.
At the time of his death, he was facing charges linked to the murder of his wife. Her body was found at her Amanzimtoti home in 2021 after she was allegedly strangled.
It also surfaced in court that de Jager had taken out life a policy of over R3 million on his wife.