Najwa Petersen's parole decision referred for review

The decision by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board to grant parole to Najwa Petersen has been referred to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board.

This was confirmed by Minister of Correctional Services Pieter, Groenewald, on Friday. He says this referral follows growing concerns raised by the family of the victim, Taliep Petersen, and other members of the public.

The Review Board is now responsible for reviewing the original decision made by the Parole Board and must either confirm it or replace it with their ruling. As a result of this referral, the decision to place Najwa on parole, which had been set for 27 November 2024, has been suspended pending the outcome of the review.

Minister Groenewald’s decision comes in response to the family’s representations, as well as broader concerns about the transparency and rigour of the parole process.

Referring to the case of Claremont police officer Marius van der Westhuizen, who was convicted of murdering his three children in 2006 and whose parole placement also faced review earlier this year, Groenewald emphasised the importance of restoring public trust in the parole system.

READ MORE: ‘Marius van der Westhuizen must rot in prison,’ says Action Society

“The discrepancies in Van der Westhuizen’s case have led to a lack of public trust. As a result, I am exercising my discretion under the provisions of the Act to ensure that Parole Boards consider all reports comprehensively to prevent future occurrences of such issues.”

63-year-old Najwa was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2009 for the murder of her husband, Taliep. She appeared before the Pollsmoor Parole Board on 11 September 2024 and was initially granted parole, having served the minimum sentence required.

However, news of her imminent release sparked criticism, particularly regarding the perceived lack of time for proper preparation.

READ MORE: Concerns raised over Najwa Petersen’s imminent parole release