Najwa Petersen's November parole on hold

CAPE TOWN - Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has put the brakes, on the parole of convicted murderer Najwa Petersen.

WATCH: Taliep Petersen's daughter speaks | 13 September 2024

She was sentenced in 2009 to 28 years in prison for the role she played, in the murder of her musician husband Taliep Petersen, in 2006.

Petersen was recently granted parole by the Pollsmoor prison parole board, and was due for release on 27 November.

In a surprise move Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, decided to suspend 63-year-old Najwa Petersen’s parole, due to take effect in November this year.

This follows representation from some family members, unhappy with the decision taken,
by Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board. 

Petersen, who pleaded not guilty to the murder and robbery, was sentenced to 28 years in 2009. 

Taliep Petersen was shot dead in his Athlone home in December of 2006. VIZ@ Taliep viz

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald said, "I directed the decision of the Pollsmoor Parole Board to place Ms Petersen on parole to be referred to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board in terns of section 75/8 f the Correctional Services Act. I decided to refer the matter following representations from the family of the victim Mr Taliep Petersen the discrepancies  in Marius VD Westhuizen case, have led to a lack of public trust. As a result I am exercising my discretion under the act to ensure the Parole Board consider all reports comprehensively to prevent future occurrences of such issues.”  

The Van der Westhuizen case the minister refers to involved a former Claremont Police Station Commander who shot and killed his three minor children in the family home in 2006.

After three attempts Van der Westhuizen, sentenced to 24 years in prison, was given the green light to be paroled.

But this decision was overturned after being referred to the parole review board. 

eNCA reached out to the Petersen family for comment.

But they have declined, saying the Minster’s decision was news to them as they were not informed.