The parole of former Claremont police officer Marius van der Westhuizen, who was convicted of murdering his three children, has been overturned, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The decision was announced by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on Thursday, 15 August after it was put under review last month.
Also read: Parole reviewed for ex Claremont cop convicted of child murders
Van der Westhuizen, who was the acting station commander at Claremont Police Station at the time of the incident in 2006, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for shooting his three children in front of his wife in 2011.
The murders of 21-month-old Antoinette, five-year-old Marius and 16-year-old Bianca were carried out as a punitive measure against his now ex-wife and fellow police officer, Charlotte, whom he believed had lied to him.
Following two failed attempts, van der Westhuizen appeared before the Parole Board and was granted parole, effective from 31 July before the decision was taken up for review days later and now overturned by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board.
According to DCS spokesperson Euné Oelofsen, the decision followed the referral of the matter to the Review Board in terms of section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act.
‘The Parole Board decided to grant him parole, and he was due to be released on parole on 31 July 2024, after serving 13 years of his 24-year sentence,’ said the statement.
DCS Minister Pieter Groenewald welcomed the revocation of van der Westhuizen’s parole.
‘Reforming our parole system is not just a policy issue, but a morale imperative,’ said Groenewald.
‘Although victims of crime are allowed to participate in the parole process, financial exclusion is a deterring factor. We are committed to review and reform our parole system to protect the most vulnerable of our society.’
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Picture: @ActionSocietySA / X