Cape Argus E-dition

Daughter of murdered cop fights to deny killer’s parole

GENEVIEVE SERRA genevieve.serra@inl.co.za

THE DAUGHTER of a slain police officer who went public earlier this year is begging President Cyril Ramaphosa to hear her pleas and not grant parole to her father’s killers.

She said she is keen to be present at the Victim Offenders Dialogue (VOD), armed with the court’s records, including thousands of signatures on a petition.

A frustrated Roxanne van Eck began a petition in March and has received 3 000 signatures so far, including 200 statements from the Table View community and surrounding areas.

Van Eck spread her message widely on social media and in other media, calling for the killer of her father, Leslie Cilliers, to not be granted parole.

In 2003, Cilliers was stationed at Table View Police Station. He was shot with an AK-47 by bank robbers near Durbanville.

Inspector Cilliers was 38 years old and had a passion for serving his community and helping destitute children.

Xolani Kumalo, who has just served 18 years behind bars, may be set free on parole.

It is for this reason that Van Eck is keen to be part of the VOD which will allow her to state her reasons why Kumalo should not be granted parole, but serve out his 25-year sentence.

In her strongly-worded petition, Van Eck said her father had been shot 52 times; he had received the “death sentence”, and now the people responsible wanted to be set free.

She wrote: “My dad got the death sentence at his hands, and in turn, we got issued a true-life sentence. A life without the wonderful man that my father was.

“Our sentences are not being lessened. Why should Xolani Kumalo, or his accomplices be let out on an earlier parole? Why should the man that shot 52 bullets into my fathers’ body and head be shown any mercy?”

Van Eck is not giving up. She is making sure the petition is seen.

“Our petition (https://www.change. org/cop-killer) went live mid-March and in two months we have received over 3 000 signatures.

“I have submitted over 200 community statements from the Table

View and surrounding areas’ residents stating their appeals against the early release of the offenders that were convicted of my father’s murder in 2003.

“The joint sentiment is that they were sentenced to multiple life sentences and even if these are to run concurrently, a minimum of 25 years should be served before parole is even considered.”

Van Eck was contacted in February to be part of the VOD but that communication and process has been slow and left her frustrated.

“The case worker contacted me mid-Feb to advise that the offenders were due for early parole consideration,” she said.

“She explained the VOD process which I agreed to participate in. She sent these questions through to the case manager in the region where the one victim (Xolani Kumalo) is being held (Mdantsane) and I am still awaiting answers.

“The case worker that met with me may have had good intentions, but she has had to bear the brunt of my frustrations, as people she needs answers from are not relaying them, so that she can provide me and my family with answers.”

Van Eck added she was informed that a mass VOD session would be better for her and her family where all inmates were present, but has received little communication – and hopes the Department of Correctional Services will consider this.

She has taken on the task of providing possible contact details for victims of the robbery and their families to be part of the process.

Sechaba Mphahlele of the Department of Correctional Services said the inmates were serving a life sentence, but would be considered for parole, and were part of rehabilitation programmes inside the prison.

“They are undergoing correctional programmes in line with their sentence plans. On completion of their minimum detention period, in line with relevant legislation, they will be considered for parole, and due process will be effected accordingly.”

METRO

en-za

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

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