“Not Yet Ready”: Parole Board Denies Najwa Petersen’s Release for Second Time

For the second time in just over a year, convicted murderer Najwa Petersen has been told she is not yet fit for freedom. The Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) has denied her latest application for parole, ensuring she will remain behind bars for the foreseeable future.

Petersen, now 64, has served 16 years of her 28-year sentence for orchestrating the 2006 murder of her husband, world-renowned musician Taliep Petersen.

A Directive for “Further Profiling”

The decision was confirmed by Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, who stated that the board had directed that Petersen be afforded a “further profile.” This is a significant step that indicates the board does not believe she has been sufficiently rehabilitated for reintegration into society.

This process requires her to complete “specified intervention programmes within a set timeframe,” as recommended by the board. Her case will only be reconsidered once she has successfully completed these programs and met all related requirements. Nxumalo did not specify what these programs entail or when her next parole hearing might be.

A Case Fraught with Emotion

This latest denial follows a similar outcome in September of last year. That initial parole decision was subsequently referred to the national CSPB by Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, following direct representations from Taliep Petersen’s grieving family.

The murder, which shocked the nation, took place on December 16, 2006, in the couple’s Athlone home. Taliep Petersen was shot dead in what was initially staged to look like a robbery. During her highly publicized trial, Najwa Petersen maintained her innocence, claiming that robbers were responsible.

However, the court found that she had masterminded the plot. A co-accused, Abdoer Raasiet Emjedi, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison in 2009, was released on parole in 2020.

For now, the parole board’s message is clear: despite being eligible for consideration, Najwa Petersen has more work to do before she can make a case for her release. The journey toward potential freedom remains paused, contingent on her fulfilling the board’s specific conditions for rehabilitation.

{Source: Citizen} 

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