Cape Town – Jacob Humphreys will not be home for Christmas after all.
The Blackheath taxi driver convicted for the death of 10 school children was supposed to be released on parole on Friday after serving four years in jail.
But the Department of Correctional Services on Thursday said his parole was suspended following an outcry by the parents of the young victims.
In August 2010, Humphreys’ taxi collided with a train at the Buttskop Level crossing in Blackheath, after he ignored warning lights, overtook a line of cars and drove through a lowered boom.
He was originally sentenced to 20 years in jail for murder, which was reduced to eight years on appeal when his conviction was changed to culpable homicide.
The 61-year-old only served four years of his sentence.
Parents of the deceased say they heard via the media last month that his parole has been approved and that he was to be set free from the Paardeberg Correctional Facility in Paarl on Friday.
The parents, who said they were not consulted, launched an urgent appeal to the Correctional Services Parole Review Board (CSPB) to review the matter.
Correctional Services spokesperson Carla Williams confirmed Humphreys’ parole has been suspended.
“The case was referred for review after two parents of the victims who passed away made an application for the decision taken by the Allandale CSPB to grant Jacob Humphreys parole on 9 December 2016 to be revised.
She said the case is now before the CSPB which is to review the matter and to make a decision within four months.
“Mr Humphreys has been informed about his parole placement suspension and subsequently invited to make written representation before 30 December 2016.”
Ambrose Arendse, dad of victim Jade Adams, 10, said he was relieved Humphreys would not walk free today.
“We all agree, all the parents, that he has to at least serve the eight-year sentence, since the 20 years was cut,” he said.