The first and last woman publicly executed in South Africa

Anna Rabie (nee Buitendacht) was born on 13 November, 1810. She lived in Graaf Reinet, where she was reknowned for her beauty. She married a locar farmer, Jan Rabie but later began an affair with a hunch-backed widower with three children named Johannes Barend Liebenberg.

Eventually, the two lovers decided to murder Anna's husband on I January, 1842. For four consecutive nights Anna gave her husband sleeping tablets and then held a candle to his forehead so that Liebenberg, who was camped outside the house, could see his target. Eventually, on the fourth night, (4/1/1842) Anna said, "Johannes, if you you don't shot now, I'll take the gun and shoot you!" A shot went off and Rabie was killed.

The couple were tried and on 10 May, 1842, both were sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence was carried out at the public gallows on 8 July, 1842. She was hanged with her dress tied around her ankles 'for the sake of decency'.

Anna's last wish was that she and her lover be buried side by side, but the judge ordered that they be buried separately - he on the north side and she on the south side of Graaf-Reinet cemetary.