The Parow Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair Shakir Smith has asked people to remain calm following news of the release on parole of a convicted murderer.
A community dialogue was held at the Parow Civic Centre on Tuesday last week, when residents were informed about the release on parole of the convicted child murderer, Norman Afzal Simons (56). He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering and kidnapping 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen. Between 70 and 80 people from the community attended the meeting.
The CPF, police and neighbourhood watches were informed by the Department of Correctional Services of Simons’ imminent release. In a letter dated 14 July 2023 the CPF objected.
Letter penned to DCS
“This letter serves to express the objections of the Parow CPF and larger Parow community to the imminent parole of Norman Afzal Simons, the infamous Station Strangler,” the CPF wrote earlier this month. “It will be remiss on the part of the parole board, Department of Correctional Services and all other authorities not to take our objections in the most serious light.”
Simons was released on Thursday 20 July after serving a 28-year jail sentence and will stay with a caretaker in Parow.
“As reported in the media, we understand the Station Strangler will have a ‘transitional’ stay in the Parow community,” the letter said. “There has been no consultative process involving the community or organisations affiliated to the Parow CPF. It has received hundreds of enquiries from concerned community members on how their children will be safeguarded against the perpetrator of such heinous crimes.”
Residents asked to remain calm
Last week Smith asked for residents to remain calm during the community dialogue. “I too understand the concerns of our children and the community at large; remember threats of any kind can get us into trouble,” he said.
“My personal opinion on this matter would be that he remain behind bars without parole, where there would be no chance of him even considering or being given the opportunity to commit a crime again. To do this an interdict would have to be applied and paid for, and only a court of law would be able to overturn the parole. So let us wait and see where this eventually goes. We will monitor the situation as it unfolds.”
Several residents at the meeting wanted to know where Simons would stay, what he looked like and the rehabilitation he had undergone while in prison.
