Lamola suspends Bob Hewitt's parole
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald
Lamola, has suspended the parole granted to convicted child rapist and former
tennis star, Bob Hewitt.
In March 2015, High Court Judge Bert Bam found the 75-year-old Addo resident guilty of raping Suellen Sheehan and Theresa Tolken and of sexually assaulting another young woman.
The victims were teenagers at the time and Hewitt their tennis coach.
Hewitt was sentenced to an effective six years in prison for the crimes which were committed in the 1980s and 90s.
He was also ordered to pay R100 000 to the Department of Justice, which would use the money for programmes involving victims of rape and sexual assault.
Hewitt has served the minimum period necessary to be considered for parole.
Correctional Services Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, says the minister studied the decision of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) and noted a lack of participation by Hewitt's victims.
Phiri adds the justice system in all its facets must pay a a considerable amount of attention to the victim-centric approach.
"As envisioned in the national framework on sexual offenses of 2012," says Phiri.
Phiri adds Mamola has instructed the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Arthur Fraser, to take the matter on review with the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board (CSPRB), as per Section 77(1) of the Correctional Services Act.
"As mandated by section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act, referring this matter for a review with the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board will mean that a date of placement for inmate Hewitt is now suspended."
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