The Democratic Alliance on Thursday raised concerns about the process and fairness of the decision to turn down the parole application of apartheid-era assassin Eugene de Kock.
"It seems that the process was not followed fully," said DA MP James Selfe in a statement.
On Thursday, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha announced that De Kock would have to wait another year before his application for parole was reconsidered - in order to allow the families of his victims to be consulted.
"I have not approved parole at this stage but have directed that a further profile be re-submitted not later than 12 months from today instead of the two-year period prescribed by the law," said Masutha.
Selfe said that, besides De Kock, there were many other apartheid officials who had sanctioned the crimes De Kock committed but who had never been held accountable for their actions.
"It seems somewhat inequitable that Mr de Kock, who committed extremely serious crimes as a functionary of a thoroughly evil system, is seemingly the only one punished."
De Kock was in charge of a police "death squad" at Vlakplaas, outside Pretoria, and was arrested in mid-1994. He was convicted and sentenced in the High Court in Pretoria in 1996.
He was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for six murders and to a further 212 years' imprisonment on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault, and fraud.
Now aged 65, De Kock has served 18 years in prison.
Timeline for Eugene De Kock
29 January 1949: Eugene de Kock is born in George in the Western Cape.
1983: De Kock begins working at the SA Police's C10 counter-insurgency unit with headquarters on the farm Vlakplaas outside Pretoria. The unit is tasked with suppressing the anti-apartheid movement.
1985: De Kock is made commanding officer of the unit. Later he gets the nickname "Prime Evil" for the efficiency of his killing methods.
1995: De Kock goes on trial for his apartheid-era crimes in the High Court in Pretoria.
1996: De Kock is sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for the murders of Jappie Kereng Maponya and the Nelspruit five: Oscar Mxolisi Ntshota, Glenack Masilo Mama, Lawrence Jacey Nyelende, Khona Gabela and Tisetso Leballo.
He is sentenced to a further 212 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault, and fraud. He begins serving his sentence at Pretoria's C-Max prison.
1997: De Kock is moved to Pretoria Central prison.
1998: De Kock begins testifying at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He reveals graphic, and previously largely unknown, details of the kidnapping, torture and murder of anti-apartheid activists.
After further TRC hearings, De Kock is granted amnesty for some of the crimes; for others it is denied as their political motivation cannot be fully proved.
April 2009: Soon-to-be president Jacob Zuma visits De Kock in prison. Although reports emerge that De Kock was seeking a presidential pardon at the time, this is never confirmed.
Dec 14, 2011: De Kock's expected parole hearing is postponed. At the time, the correctional services department refuses to provide details for the postponement.
2012: De Kock reaches out to relatives of some of his victims; including the mother and wife of ANC lawyer Bheki Mlangeni. The family refuse to grant him forgiveness, questioning the sincerity of his request. Marcia Khoza, the daughter of another victim, Portia Shabangu, publicly forgives De Kock after visiting him in prison.
May 15, 2013: Another parole application by De Kock is turned down.
July 10 2014: Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha announces that De Kock's most recent application for parole is denied because not all the victims' families were consulted. He declares that De Kock's application can be re-submitted within a year, after the families of victims participate in the process.
DA concerned over De Kock parole decision
The Democratic Alliance on Thursday raised concerns about the process and fairness of the decision to turn down the parole application of apartheid-era assassin Eugene de Kock.
"It seems that the process was not followed fully," said DA MP James Selfe in a statement.
On Thursday, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha announced that De Kock would have to wait another year before his application for parole was reconsidered - in order to allow the families of his victims to be consulted.
"I have not approved parole at this stage but have directed that a further profile be re-submitted not later than 12 months from today instead of the two-year period prescribed by the law," said Masutha.
Selfe said that, besides De Kock, there were many other apartheid officials who had sanctioned the crimes De Kock committed but who had never been held accountable for their actions.
"It seems somewhat inequitable that Mr de Kock, who committed extremely serious crimes as a functionary of a thoroughly evil system, is seemingly the only one punished."
De Kock was in charge of a police "death squad" at Vlakplaas, outside Pretoria, and was arrested in mid-1994. He was convicted and sentenced in the High Court in Pretoria in 1996.
He was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for six murders and to a further 212 years' imprisonment on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault, and fraud.
Now aged 65, De Kock has served 18 years in prison.
Timeline for Eugene De Kock
29 January 1949: Eugene de Kock is born in George in the Western Cape.
1983: De Kock begins working at the SA Police's C10 counter-insurgency unit with headquarters on the farm Vlakplaas outside Pretoria. The unit is tasked with suppressing the anti-apartheid movement.
1985: De Kock is made commanding officer of the unit. Later he gets the nickname "Prime Evil" for the efficiency of his killing methods.
1995: De Kock goes on trial for his apartheid-era crimes in the High Court in Pretoria.
1996: De Kock is sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for the murders of Jappie Kereng Maponya and the Nelspruit five: Oscar Mxolisi Ntshota, Glenack Masilo Mama, Lawrence Jacey Nyelende, Khona Gabela and Tisetso Leballo.
He is sentenced to a further 212 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault, and fraud. He begins serving his sentence at Pretoria's C-Max prison.
1997: De Kock is moved to Pretoria Central prison.
1998: De Kock begins testifying at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He reveals graphic, and previously largely unknown, details of the kidnapping, torture and murder of anti-apartheid activists.
After further TRC hearings, De Kock is granted amnesty for some of the crimes; for others it is denied as their political motivation cannot be fully proved.
April 2009: Soon-to-be president Jacob Zuma visits De Kock in prison. Although reports emerge that De Kock was seeking a presidential pardon at the time, this is never confirmed.
Dec 14, 2011: De Kock's expected parole hearing is postponed. At the time, the correctional services department refuses to provide details for the postponement.
2012: De Kock reaches out to relatives of some of his victims; including the mother and wife of ANC lawyer Bheki Mlangeni. The family refuse to grant him forgiveness, questioning the sincerity of his request. Marcia Khoza, the daughter of another victim, Portia Shabangu, publicly forgives De Kock after visiting him in prison.
May 15, 2013: Another parole application by De Kock is turned down.
July 10 2014: Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha announces that De Kock's most recent application for parole is denied because not all the victims' families were consulted. He declares that De Kock's application can be re-submitted within a year, after the families of victims participate in the process.
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