Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald announced on Friday that the Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board’s decision to grant Petersen parole has been referred to the Parole Review Board.
Petersen, 63, is serving a prison sentence for the 2006 murder of her husband, musician Taliep Petersen, who was shot in the head after being tied up with cable ties in their Cape Town home on December 16, 2006.
She was sentenced to 28 years in prison on February 11, 2009.
On September 11, 2024, Petersen appeared before the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board and was given a parole date of November 27, 2024.
The Department of Correctional Services stated earlier this month that the victims were involved in the parole hearing process and that Petersen had participated in various rehabilitation programs, preparing her for reintegration into society.
However, on Friday, Minister Groenewald stated that the Parole Review Board must now review the original decision and either confirm it or make a new decision.
This referral suspends Petersen’s parole, which was set for November 27, 2024, pending the review outcome.
The Minister’s decision followed representations from Taliep’s family.
Groenewald cited public distrust due to discrepancies in another case, emphasising the need for comprehensive consideration of all reports by Parole Boards to prevent similar issues in the future.
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