Alison Botha on attackers’ parole release: ‘Day I thought would never come’

Alison Botha – a survivor of one of the most horrific Gender-Based Violence crimes in South Africa – has spoken out after her attackers were released on parole this week.

On Tuesday, 4 July, the Department of Correctional Services announced the release of Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1995.

The Port Elizabeth woman was brutally raped and stabbed in a brutal attack that left her disemboweled and near-decapitated.

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ALISON REACTS TO PAROLE NEWS

On 18 December 1995, Alison Botha was kidnapped outside her PE home by Theuns Kruger and Frans du Toit. She was taken to the city’s outskirts, where she was brutally raped and stabbed more than 30 times.

The then 27-year-old woman was left for dead but managed to crawl to a nearby road for help. Through sheer willpower, Alison held onto her slit throat and her slashed stomach – which had been disemboweled,  and flagged down a passing driver.

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Alison survived the horrific ordeal and shared her story through her biography, I Have Life,  and award-winning documentary Alison.

Following news of her attackers’ release on parole, Alison reacted on her Facebook page. Posting a clip of a news article, she shared: “The day I hoped and prayed would never come.

“When I was asked ‘How will you feel if they ever get parole?’ – my immediate answer was always – ‘I’m hoping I’ll never find out.’ But today, I did…”

The day I hoped and prayed would never come. When I was asked ‘How will you feel if they ever get parole?’ – my immediate answer was always – ‘I’m hoping I’ll never find out.’ But today, I did…….

Posted by Alison (Inspirational Speaker) on Tuesday, 4 July 2023

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PAROLE FOR VIOLENT ATTACKERS

In a statement, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services announced the release of Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, effective on Tuesday, 4 July.

According to the department, the offenders had served the minimum sentence behind bars to render them eligible for parole.

The decision was made as per the Correctional Services Act and following a deliberation by the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS), chaired by a judge of the high court and comprising of professionals, including magistrates, attorneys, clinical psychologists, social workers, medical doctors, professors and members of the public.

Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo also claimed that the offenders had undergone an intensive rehabilitation process.

The statement read: “This is not just about an inmate completing programmes or having served the minimum required time. Various structures study all the material before them and assessment reports. Placing a lifer back into the community has to satisfy all the structures in the parole consideration process in terms of rehabilitation and the risk involved.

“The minister is ultimately the decision maker.”

In 1995, Pretoria High Court Judge Chris Jansen handed the men life sentences without the possibility of parole. He said: “I needed to make it clear they were a threat to society and should never be released”.”

However, this was overturned when the Department of Justice and Correctional Services announced in October 2004 that all prisoners become eligible for parole after serving 25 years in prison.