As the anniversary of Taliep Petersen’s murder approaches, the Daily Voice has learnt that his wife Najwa Dirk is staging a musical for prisoners.
The Daily Voice can reveal that Najwa, 49, is hard at work organising a Christmas show for her fellow inmates at the Worcester Female Correctional Centre.
Sources reveal that Najwa gave her brother Waleed Dirk a list of local artists whom she wants to perform in the show.
“Waleed and Cass Isaacs are apparently helping her to organise the show,” said an entertainment industry source.
“Cass has approached a lot of the artists who worked with and trained under Taliep to take part.
“A lot of them have said no, but some have said yes.
“She (Najwa) apparently wanted Emo Adams and Terry Smith to perform but they have refused.”
But when the Daily Voice contacted Emo, he said he was in Mossel Bay and is unaware of the planned show.
Taliep’s family is furious at Najwa’s plans.
“Can a person be so evil?” asked the late music and playwright’s sister Maatoema Groenmeyer.
“It’s four days after the anniversary of his death. We are so enraged at this.
“We haven’t really come to terms with what happened and now she is planning something like this?
“Prison is not a holiday camp. Those people committed crime and they are supposed to be punished for what they did… now they are going to have a show. It’s a disgrace to my brother’s memory.
“That woman is evil personified. The timing is all off.
“She is trying to gain favour. She is trying to manipulate the people to like her and she is trying to gain notoriety by saying: ‘I’m doing this for you’.”
Taliep’s older sister Tagmieda Johnson said: “Is this her way of celebrating her evilness? What message is she sending out to people?
“She is trying to glamourise crime and let people think that prison is a free ride.”
Communications officer for Correctional Services Simphiwe Xaphe insists there is no show.
“I called the head of the Worcester Female Correctional Centre and she confirmed there is no event,” he said. - Daily Voice