In just 10 days, the notorious Station Strangler, Norman “Afzal” Simons, is set to be released in Cape Town after spending nearly three decades behind bars.
The “Daily Voice” exclusively revealed that meetings were called with Mitchells Plain cops and several community organisations by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) last week to discuss the details of his release.
According to a “Daily Voice” source, it was revealed that Simons had been granted parole and would be released on July 20.
“They said they are consulting because he has been granted parole and will be released on July 20. They have apparently already consulted with the victim’s family and will now speak to the other families,” the insider explains.
Simons was convicted in 1995 of the kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen.
He had been suspected of being a serial killer after the bodies of 22 boys were found in shallow graves in Mitchells Plain between 1986 and 1994. However, he was only ever convicted for Elroy’s murder.
Simons was sentenced to 25 years for murder and 10 years for kidnapping.
However, his sentence was increased to life imprisonment after a failed appeal bid.
He has already served 28 years behind bars.
Last year, SA Human Rights Commissioner Chris Nissen called for Simons to be released, saying he had done his time.
Nissen told the “Weekend Argus”: “I was present when the bodies were discovered, I took the late former president Nelson Mandela to the house of the Samaai family. I am of the opinion that the law has already taken its course.
“(Simons) has paid for his mistakes, whether he did one or others, leave it in God’s hands. We do not condone any rape or murder but we must not be hypocrites, let us be consistent,” he said.
DCS spokesperson Candice van Reenen said the department will not be commenting on Simons’ release.
“We are interacting with the victims and community and will therefore not make any comment on the matter at this stage,” she added.
Meanwhile, the “Daily Voice” source also revealed that Simons will not be living in Mitchells Plain after his release.
“He will not come back to Mitchells Plain, he will be living in Parow with his family,” the insider adds.
However, Parow ward councillor Franchesca Walker said she had not been informed of his impending release.
“It is shocking that as the political head, I had not been informed of anything. I will be engaging with our station commander and our community police forum as well as other community structures to hear if they were informed, because the Parow community has the right to know and should be consulted,” she added.
Daily Voice