By Akani Nkuna
Convicted murderer Najwa Petersen has been denied parole, with the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) directing that she undergo further profiling and complete specified rehabilitation programmes before her parole can be reconsidered.
This decision marks Petersen’s second failed bid for release in just over a year.
In September 2024, the CSPB granted her a parole placement date of 27 November 2024.
But Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald later referred that decision to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board, suspending her planned release following representations from the family of her late husband, Taliep Petersen.
Petersen was arrested in June 2007 and later convicted of orchestrating the murder of her husband, music and theatre legend Taliep Petersen.
Taliep was shot dead at his Athlone home in December 2006 in what was initially believed to be a robbery.
Najwa began serving a 28-year sentence in February 2009 for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that the CSPB had considered Petersen’s parole placement and decided she should be “afforded a further profile”.
“This includes the completion of specified intervention programmes within a set timeframe, as recommended by the Board. Her parole placement will be reconsidered once these programmes have been successfully completed and all related requirements have been met,” the department said.
Petersen has now served more than 16 years of her 28-year sentence, making her eligible for parole consideration but not guaranteed release.
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