Cape Town - Just days before former police officer, Marius van der Westhuizen was due to be paroled after serving 13 years for the murder of his three children, the Department of Correctional Services has halted his release.
The decision was made to allow for a review by a Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board (CSPRB).
Van der Westhuizen, who is imprisoned at Malmesbury Prison, was set to be released on parole on Wednesday.
Singabakho Nxumalo, DCS spokersperson, said that protocol had to be followed after it was reset for a overview: “The deparment has studied the report of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) on the parole placement of Van der Westhuizen and has directed that it be reviewed.
“This decision implies that the previously scheduled parole placement date of July 31 is now irrelevant as a review process is to be initiated following Section 77(1) of the Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998. According to this section, a Board will be constituted by members drawn from the National Council of Correctional Services and it is to be chaired by a judge.”
The Board is authorised to review parole decisions if a submission is made by the Correctional Services Minister, the commissioner of Correctional Services, or the inspecting judge. Nxumalo said: “The department believes that it is fair and in the interest of justice to scrutinise the process
followed and the assessment reports in the profile of Van der Westhuizen.
“As mandated by Section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act, referring this matter for a review by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board suspends any date of placement for inmate Van der Westhuizen.”
The news comes just days after van der Westhuizen’s ex-wife, Charlotte Van der Westhuizen, began a national pledge and BackaBuddy account, titled: “Help Charlotte fight for justice and healing,” where she asks South Africans to help raise R200 000 to foot the bill for legal fees and a psychologist, which are vital for the Victim Impact report during a parole bid.
In a video shared with Weekend Argus, Charlotte made an impassioned plea: “I was married to Marius and we had three children, Bianca, 16, Marius jr, five, and Antionette, 21 months old. On July 28 2006, my husband, who was a police officer, shot and murdered my three children in front of me. After which he locked me inside the house and I had to call my colleagues to come and assist me.
“Marius is currently serving his prison service of 24 years and he went to prison in 2011, after the Cape High Court case. In South Africa it works like a Black Friday sale, the moment you get into prison, and you behave and you have your checklist, you get 50% discount; in this case it means after 12 years he is eligible for parole.
“Currently we are at the third parole hearing and he was granted parole after just 13 years in prison. If you think about it is just about four years for each child, which is not justice.”
Charlotte said that she was opposing his release and needed “money for the lawyers and the medical expenses.
For example, my victim impact report from the psychologist is R40 000.” It took her 40 hours to write the 24-page report and she has been my psychologist for the past 18 years.
“I am a lieutenant-colonel, with 30 years’ experience and I have decided I am not going to stay quiet, or hide away, I will fight this. The parole system in SA is perpetrator-orientated.
“Their psychologists are paid by the State and they do not have all the lawyer fees like I have. The parole system needs to hear the victim as well and the community, no one wants a child murderer outside.”
Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm called for Van der Westhuizen to remain behind bars. “We welcome this move, and trust that the right decision will be made. It is also good to see that positive change is being made in the department since the appointment of Minister Pieter Groenewald.
“We reiterate once again that 13 years for the death of three innocent children is insulting and sets a dangerous precedent No person is above the law, regardless of their status in society.
“He took three children from this world, children who had their entire lives in front of them.
“The trauma inflicted on the family warrants nothing less than life in prison.”
Earlier Charlotte also made an internal appeal via her employers, the SAPS to secure her safety should he be granted parole.
Van der Westhuizen’s apparent motive for the murder was to punish Charlotte.
He had given her an ultimatum to choose between her job or him and their family, and she had answered that she could not make such a choice.
Gerhard van Niekerk from Van Gend Attorneys Inc, who represents Charlotte was contacted this week further comment from his client but did not respond.