Cape Town - Former Hard Livings gang leader Rashied Staggie has not violated his parole conditions, the Patriotic Alliance said on Thursday.
“It is alleged that Mr Staggie violated a parole condition stipulating that he not associate with known gangsters. There is no proof of this, as it is a patently false assertion,” said party spokeswoman Lerato Kholoanyane.
“None of his parole conditions have been violated.”
The correctional services department revoked his parole on Thursday.
“The department of correctional services... wishes to confirm that offender Staggie, who is on day-parole, was taken back this morning from his employer and is currently incarcerated at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre,” said spokesman Manelisi Wolela.
“We believe he violated his parole conditions,” said Wolela.
He said the matter was under investigation and standard procedures and processes would be followed, including his appearance before the case management committee and the correctional supervision and parole board.
Staggie was sentenced in 2003 to 15 years in prison on charges of kidnapping and rape, and in 2004, he received another 13 years for gun theft from a police armoury.
The sentences ran concurrently, and he served 11 years before his release on day parole in September.
Staggie reportedly signed a party membership form for the newly-formed Patriotic Alliance on Sunday.
Kholoanyane said it was Staggie’s right to join any political party, a right which was enshrined in the Constitution.
“The Patriotic Alliance made the membership of Mr Staggie known in order to show that the party is serious about its vision of combating crime and gangsterism,” she said.
“The PA has facilitated an anti gang war peace process in the Western Cape and it stands by this work.”
The Democratic Alliance said it welcomed the department's decision to revoke Staggie's parole.
“Mr Staggies' re-arrest hopefully illustrates a commitment by the department to enforce parole conditions without fear or favour, and will send a distinct message to other parolees and potential re-offenders,” said MP James Selfe.
“We look forward to the case management committee and the correctional supervision and parole board's decision, and trust that every possible measure will be taken to ensure that justice prevails.”
Sapa