The Correctional Supervision and Parole Board has recommended the release of Donovan Moodley, who was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of university student Leigh Matthews in 2004.
The recommendation follows a parole hearing held on Monday at Leeuwkop Prison in Johannesburg, where Moodley is serving a life sentence, EWN reports.
Moodley kidnapped Matthews, then 21, in July 2004 and extorted R50 000 from her parents. He later shot her four times before leaving her body in a veld. He pleaded guilty during his trial in 2005 and was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, along with additional terms for kidnapping and extortion.
This opens the way for Moodley’s third attempt to secure parole. His two previous applications in 2022 and 2023 were unsuccessful. While in prison, he has completed an LLB degree and previously represented himself in court when challenging the outcomes of those earlier parole hearings, IOL reports.
‘No display of rehabilitation’
Rob Matthews, father of Leigh, told the SABC this development saddens him “because there are still many unanswered questions” around his daughter’s murder.
“Where was her body kept? Who else was involved in the crime? There is no obvious display of rehabilitation [by Moodley]. We’ve seen a number of court cases by mr. Moodley and he’s made some outrageous statements within court documents.”
Matthews says furthermore his family and legal team were threatened by Moodley as recent as 2024 and this shows that he’s not been rehabilitated.
“Due care needs to be taken by people who make decisions to refer prisoners for parole to look at the broader picture and take a holistic approach to that decision.”
The parole board’s recommendation will now be reviewed by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services, which will make the final determination on whether Moodley will be granted parole.
