Norman Afzal Simons, accused of being the Station Strangler, was released on parole today, under a cloak of secrecy, after serving 28 years in prison for the murder and kidnapping of 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen.
Simons left the correction services department’s Bellville office in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Also read: What if Norman Simons wasn’t the Station Strangler?
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) indicated that Simons would now be under house arrest for the rest of his life while living with a cousin in Parow which sparked fear and discontent from members of the Parow community.
The DCS held a community dialogue at the Parow Civic Centre on Tuesday, 18 July, to discuss Simons’ parole and the release of high-profile offenders after holding a similar engagement with the community of Lentegeur in Mitchells Plain over the weekend.
It was reported that residents in Parow staged a walk-out in protest of a comment made by DCS Commissioner Delekile Klaas during the dialogue.
The motive behind the dialogue was not about ‘asking for permission’ from the residents nor to change the decision taken to release the offender, but rather to inform the community about his then imminent release, according to Klaas who responded to questions by the Cape Times on Wednesday.
Also read: Station Strangler must apologise to residents, says Mitchells Plain CPF
Many of the community members did not welcome the release of the former Mitchells Plain teacher, expressing fear for the safety of their families residing in the area.
Elroy van Rooyen’s aunt, Florence Gelant, told EWN that his release had opened up old wounds.
A member of the Parow Community Police Forum (CPF) and the chairperson of the Neighbourhood Watch, Stephan Carstens, told Cape Times that ‘it has caused a ruckus. From the dialogue, it was fairly obvious that the community is up in arms.’
‘We have had a case of Tazne van Wyk who was killed by a parolee in our midst in and around the same Parow area. We don’t have faith in the government and the justice system,’ added Carstens.
Also read: Strict parole conditions set for release of the Station Strangler next week
Locals also expressed discontent that they were not properly consulted about Simons’ release on parole as well as his move to Parow.
‘We as community were not made aware, we found out through the media,’ said ward councillor, Franchesca Walker during the dialogue.
IOL reported that residents remain weary of Simons.
‘We [were] given two hours and two days to accept living with someone who terrorised the community. Until this day we all feel the effects of what he has done,’ said resident Eugene Pieterson. ‘I am concerned about my kids who might be walking to the shops.’
‘It affects me deeply because I have neighours and friends who were affected by what this mad had done,’ he added.
21 other boys were murdered between 1986 and 1994 of which Simons was also suspected. However, he was only convicted of the one murder and kidnapping case after being found guilty of luring the young victim from Strand train station in 1995.
Van Rooyen’s body was found days later, decomposing in the bushes in Kleinvlei, Eerste River.
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Picture: Ron Lach / Pexels
