The Department of Correctional Services has announced a review of the decision to place a former Claremont police officer, Marius van der Westhuizen, on parole.
Van der Westhuizen was convicted of the murder
of his three children in 2006. Reports indicate that he shot his children, aged
16, five years, and 21 months, to punish his wife.
Van der Westhuizen has served 13 years of his
24-year sentence.
The former senior policeman and convicted child
killer was initially set to be placed on parole at the end of July. However,
the department's, said the decision to review his parole was made after
examining the report from the parole board.
This was Van der Westhuizen's third appearance
before the Correctional Services Parole Board, with his first session occurring
in December 2022.
"This decision implies that the previously
scheduled parole placement date of 31 July 2024 is now irrelevant as a review
process is to be initiated following Section 77(1) of the Correctional Services
Act, 111 of 1998,” said Singabakho Nxumalo, departmental spokesperson,.
“According to this section, a Correctional
Supervision and Parole Review Board will be constituted by members drawn from
the National Council of Correctional Services and will be chaired by a judge.
“The CSPRB is an empowered structure authorised
to review the decisions of the CSPB if a submission is made by the Minister of
Correctional Services, the Commissioner of Correctional Services, or the
Inspecting Judge," added Nxumalo.
Parole was previously not granted parole due to
the need for further profiling.
The department said that he has accepted
responsibility for his crimes and has participated in therapeutic and other
rehabilitation interventions.
"The victims were involved in the
parole-hearing process and have been informed of the CSPB's decision,"
said Nxumalo.
His sentence is set to expire in September
2034.
Done By: Mitchum George
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