And on a sunny morning exactly a year ago tomorrow he allegedly shot her in the back and head at point-blank range as she cooked Sunday lunch.
She died instantly by the hand of the child on whom she doted, despite his methamphetamine (tik) addiction, drug dealing and loyalty to the notorious 28s prison gang, which made family life hell in Leerdam Street.
This week the 23-year-old stood laughing in the dock of Regional Court 3 in Bellville when a magistrate declared him fit to stand trial for murder.
He showed no remorse or emotion as he turned to speak to his older sisters in the public gallery. They ignored him.
"We don't have a brother any more. He has another family. He did it for his other family," said his eldest sister, Joanne Grobbelaar, 29.
That "other family" is the 28 s prison gang, known for their brutality and regard for women as "poison".
"He has been with them since he dropped out of high school. He did it to prove something to them," said his other sister, Shireen van Aardt, 26.
"This is the only explanation that makes sense. Why else would an ordinary, sane man kill his own mother in such a cold-blooded way?" she asked.
"She loved Heinrigh. She loved all of her kids. But for him she had a special love. She didn't walk the extra mile for him, she ran it," said Grobbelaar.
Van Aardt pulled the trigger in front of Joanne and her twin sister, Annelize Phillips, then calmly walked outside, gun in hand, laughing.
Van Aardt was evaluated by two psychiatrists at Valkenberg Hospital . Dr Ashraf Jedaar said in a report submitted to court that Van Aardt appreciated the wrongfulness of his actions and admitted to abuse of alcohol, dagga, mandrax and tik.
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