The last surviving member of the infamous 1980s Stander gang will appear before a parole board shortly for consideration of his possible release from jail.
Department of correctional services spokesperson Molwantwa Mosia said the board would sit this week or next to consider the case of Allan Heyl.
Heyl, 52, was a member of the Stander gang that committed a string of robberies in and around Johannesburg in 1983 and 1984.
The gang was led by former police captain Andre Stander, who fled the country and was killed in a shoot-out with a police officer in Florida, United States.
Another accomplice, Patrick Lee McCall, was killed when police stormed the gang's hideout in Houghton.
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Heyl escaped from Zonderwater prison in October 1983 while serving a 15-year sentence for robbery. During this time, he joined Stander and McCall.
He fled to England in 1984, where he was sentenced in 1985 to nine years' imprisonment for crimes committed there.
In 1991, Heyl was deported to South Africa to stand trial for his Stander gang offences. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of robbery, 17 of illegal possession of arms and ammunition, five of car theft and one of escaping from prison.
He was sentenced in effect to 33 years in jail, which he is serving at the Krugersdorp prison.
Mosiane said the parole board rejected Heyl's application a year ago. He apparently had to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before he could be considered for parole.
The board set a "further parole date" of July 20, 2004 for his application to be considered afresh.
This did not mean the parole board had to sit on the day indicated, but as soon as possible thereafter, Mosiane said.
Heyl reportedly wants an early release to enable him to claim royalties from a recent American-made film about the gang's exploits.
Earlier this month he approached the Pretoria High Court for an early release, but the matter was postponed indefinitely. - Sapa
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