The Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald said that although convicted child killer Marius van der Westhuizen reapplied for parole, a long process needs to first be followed before the newly-constituted parole board sits for a decision.

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The news of van der Westhuizen’s fourth parole bid broke earlier this week, with lobby groups calling for the judicial system to stop any attempts at his freedom from being halted.

van der Westhuizen previously worked as a police officer at the Claremont SAPS. He was convicted for killing his three young children in cold-blood, while forcing his wife to watch.

“Legally, there is nothing that prevents Marius van der Westhuizen to reapply for parole. Whether a parole board will grant parole is another question and we will have to wait and see what the decision will be,” said Groenewald.

Groenewald has told Smile 90.4 FM that several investigations will need to be carried out, reports will have to be conducted, and the grieving family will also be required to give their two-cents before the parole board meets to make a decision on the matter.

“It must be remembered that the review board, who cancelled the previous application for his parole, made certain recommendations. For instance, that the victims must be properly consulted, and they must be allowed to make certain inputs in such an application.”

He said there’s another crucial factor to consider.

“What is also most important is that the review Board also recommended that the matter must be considered by a differently constituted parole board, which must consider all the relevant medical reports and whether the offender has undergone sufficient psychotherapy to address the risk factors identified. In the psychologist and criminologist reports, they will have to comply to that. So we will have to see and wait,” Groenewald affirmed.