Granting parole to the two men found guilty of the murders of actor Brett Goldin and fashion designer Richard Bloom would send the wrong message, the DA says.
Jade Wyngaard and Nurshad Davids have served half their 12-year sentences, and are expected to attend a parole board hearing on July 4.
The men, who were 18 and 19 years old when sentence was handed down, are also expected to receive the six-month remission of sentence announced last month.
DA spokesman on correctional services James Selfe said the “brutal execution-style” murders devastated the Goldin and Bloom families and friends, “shocked the international theatre community and grievously damaged South Africa’s reputation”.
Selfe said people found guilty of such horrific and violent crimes should serve a long sentence before being considered for release on parole – and then only once it could be shown they were properly rehabilitated.
Department of Correctional Services spokesman Phumlani Ximiya said the parole board would take a variety of factors into account in considering whether the two men should be granted parole. The families of the murdered men would be involved at every stage of the process.
Political Bureau