Sandra Smith was born around 1965 in apartheid-era South Africa. Not much is publicly recorded about her early childhood, family background, or personal upbringing. As a young woman in a racially segregated and economically divided country, she grew up in a time of immense political tension and social instability. The challenges faced by many South Africans during this era, particularly those from marginalized communities, were often tied to poverty, limited opportunities, and the lasting impacts of institutionalized inequality.

By her early 20s, Sandra had become involved with a man named Yassiem Harris. Their relationship would eventually turn deadly, tied together by a crime that shocked the public. There is limited biographical information available about Sandra’s education, employment, or psychological state before the murder.

In 1986, Sandra Smith and her boyfriend, Yassiem Harris, committed an armed robbery that would result in the death of a teenager named Jermaine Abrahams. Jermaine, just 16 years old, was fatally shot during the course of the robbery. The incident sparked outrage and was swiftly investigated by authorities.

Sandra and Yassiem were arrested shortly after the murder and charged with Jermaine’s death. During the trial, the prosecution argued that both were complicit in the fatal robbery and held them equally responsible for the murder. The court found them guilty, and in the same year, both were sentenced to death by hanging.

On June 2, 1989, Sandra Smith and Yassiem Harris were executed at Pretoria Central Prison. Sandra became the last known woman to be executed in South Africa. Her execution occurred only a few months before President F.W. de Klerk declared a nationwide moratorium on the death penalty in November 1989, effectively halting all executions.