The Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF) says Norman ‘Afzal’ Simons, also known as the notorious Station Strangler, must apologise to residents if he wants to be reintegrated into the community.
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The group’s comments follow meetings held with several stakeholders about Simons’ release. Norman Jantjies, chair of the Mitchells Plain CPF, says the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) will host a public meeting at the Lentegeur Civic Centre on Sunday at 2pm to discuss the matter further.
Simons was arrested in 1994 on suspicion of being a serial killer after the bodies of 22 boys were found in Mitchells Plain between 1986 and 1994. As per IOL, he was only convicted in 1995 for the kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murder and 10 years for kidnapping.
After a failed appeal bid, his sentence was changed to life imprisonment, of which he has already served 28 years. He is scheduled to be paroled on 20 July 2023.
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At the time of the murders, Jantjies reportedly helped search for the bodies of missing boys and says many residents are reliving the trauma of that time. ‘The younger generation may not have any recollection, but the adults who were at school at the time of the Station Strangler are now reliving the fear of their school days when they were instructed to walk in groups as the killings were taking place.’
He says although the CPF does not anticipate any violence from Mitchells Plain residents, Simons must apologise to them. ‘We cannot talk about rehabilitation because there has never been a confession, not even for the one case he was convicted on. Norman should come and ask the community for forgiveness for the fear they lived in if he wants to be reintegrated into the community.’
Franchesca Walker, Parow ward councillor, says residents are understandably concerned. ‘Since the news broke, it is clear that the Parow community is upset that they were not consulted. There is fear about where in Parow he will stay and there are questions about his rehabilitation. How do parents know that he will not re-offend? These are legitimate concerns.’
The DCS has not responded to Cape {town} Etc’s queries on the matter at the time of publication.
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