MEC Albert Fritz questions suspected murderer's parole
25 February 2020
The Western Cape Government shares the anger with residents of this province that the alleged murder of Tazne van Wyk was committed by a suspect who had been released on parole, with many prior convictions on record.
MEC Albert Fritz said, “It is the job of our justice system to keep criminals behind bars. If it is true that this suspect, who had previously been convicted and released 11 times, was able to get parole and commit this violent crime, then our criminal justice system has failed our residents. Further investigation is needed into the systemic issues faced our parole system.”
The murder suspect, Moehydien Pangaker, had been convicted and released 11 times and he was still able to get parole. His charges included possession of a stolen vehicle, assault, murder, theft and house breaking. In 2008, he was sentenced for kidnapping, child abuse and culpable homicide and received a 10-year sentence.
Minister Fritz said, “As the Western Cape Government, we are taking a whole of society approach. The Minister of Health, Nomafrench Mbombo, is accompanying Tazne’s family to Worcester Forensic Pathology Laboratory to offer support this morning. The Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, has also ensured that social workers were deployed to assist the family with this trauma.”