The Parow community say the convicted murderer Norman Simons (56), also known as the Station Strangler, is not welcome in their area.
Simons was found guilty of the murder and kidnapping of 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen. He served 28 years in jail after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 1995. He was released on parole last week Thursday 20 July.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) indicated that he will be staying with family in Parow.
The department held a community dialogue at the Parow Civic Centre on Tuesday 18 July to discuss his parole and the release of high-profile offenders.
A similar engagement was held with the community of Lentegeur in Mitchells Plain where the bodies of 21 other boys were murdered and dumped between 1986 and 1994. Simons was suspected of these cases, but only convicted of the one murder and kidnapping case.
Residents in Parow are however not happy with some of the responses provided by DCS. Some walked out as the meeting was about to be concluded.
DCS explainsMoliehi Sebotsa, area commissioner for Goodwood, said in her opening remarks that Simons had been at a correctional facility for 28 years. In terms of the law, the minimum detention period is 25 years and after that, convicts are eligible for parole, she said.
“When we consider parole, we also consider the programmes he had taken part in, so that when he leaves our facility, he leaves a better person.”
Sebotsa said Simons had done all the programmes that are necessary and that his parole has now come. He was released on parole on 20 July.
Simons will be staying in Parow with a caretaker.
“He will be living among you. He will however be on parole for the rest of his life. Currently DCS have 22 parolees livings among you. Ten of the 22 are high-risk, three are low-risk and seven are medium-risk,” said Sebotsa.
Ronnie Bila, head of community corrections Bellville, said Simons will not be allowed to use drugs and alcohol.
“He will be under house-arrest and is not allowed to interact with the media. He is also not allowed to interact with children.
“Most importantly, he will just be allowed to leave the area if he wants to seek employment and visit the doctor.” DCS needs to be made aware of this and Simons will need to get their permission prior to this.
Community not informedFranchesca Walker, ward councillor, told the DCS that the Parow community were never informed about Simons’ release on parole and his move to Parow.
“I want to know as ward councillor and we would like to know which rehabilitation he has undergone for the 28 years that he has been imprisoned, and how many times will he be visited (by his parole officer)?
“We as community were not made aware, we found out through the media,” said Walker.
She also asked about the 22 other parolees released by DCS in the Parow area.
“I would also like to know if any of the parolees have re-offended? Are we not privy to this information before this decision is taken? As a community we need answers,” Walker said.
Residents raised their concernsOne resident wanted to know what Simons looks like and how he can be identified.
His said his children will not be able to identify Simons when he walks in the street. He said that the person terrorised not only the one area, but an entire city. “When he was arrested, the killings stopped,” the resident said.
His fears were echoed by another man who also fears for the safety of his three boys.
“Two of them have to walk home from school while my wife and I are far away at work.”
A woman said that the justice system needs to be taken to task.
Another asked what will happen if the parents of the other 21 children want to take revenge. “Parow will be a blood bath,” she commented.
Another woman mentioned that one parolee who was released earlier committed a crime while he was outside, killing Jesse Hess (19) and her grandfather, Christopher Lategan (85). “How did that parole go?”
One resident asked whether the local schools will be informed about his presence.
DCS says it had no choiceDelekile Klaas, regional commissioner DCS, Western Cape, said there was no choice but to release Simons on parole.
“The offender had gone through various programmes. Even if the minister of justice and correctional services Ronald Lamola said no, he will not release him, the courts would. The law states that 25 years is life imprisonment, and he has served the sentence.
“When we release parolees, we try as far as possible to engage with the police and the community policing forums (CPF).”
“These parolees come from society and as we speak our facilities are overcrowded. It is young people, black, coloured, and white, male, and female.”
Klaas encouraged residents to go and see their programmes that they offer. He said the rehabilitation programmes run every day.
“That is what we did with this man with the help of various NGOs and church leaders.”
Klaas emphasised that Simons will remain under house arrest and that he will only be allowed to go to the doctor and seek employment. “But we will monitor him. He will be indoors. We will work with the police who has his details and picture.”
He said as Simons’ behaviour improves, that DCS will relax the conditions.
“In his case he is under parole for life. One small mistake and he will be back inside for life. We understand your fears, we too have those fears. We do live in the community,” he said. Klaas said Simons will receive eight visits per month.
Col Deirdré Engelbrecht, Parow Police Station Commander, said the police will visit the address.
Local ward councillor, Roger Cannon, as well as CPF chair, Shakir Smith, also attended the meeting.
